Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has been confronted on the street by an infamous anti-lockdown leader – who also supports Vladimir Putin – about the airline’s Covid vaccine mandates.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, Mr Joyce appears to stop to take what he thinks is a selfie with Simeon Boikov, known online as ‘Aussie Cossack’, on George Street in Sydney.

Mr Joyce then cottons on to the fact it’s not just an innocent picture when Mr Boikov asks “who do you work for?”.

The Qantas chief executive walks away but Mr Boikov continues to follow him down the street.

“Why did you not allow the people who weren’t jabbed to work, mate? That’s a bit of a disgrace,” he says.

“Why are you doing this?” Mr Joyce asks.

Mr Boikov claims he is “just getting a selfie” but Mr Joyce tells him he is being “annoying”.

“No, you’re just a disgrace,” Mr Boikov hits back, before Mr Joyce repeats the same words back to him.

Mr Boikov continues to follow Mr Joyce, telling him he “discriminates” against the unvaccinated.

Mr Joyce tells Mr Boikov to “p*** off” before things escalate even further.

Mr Boikov calls him a “grub” and Mr Joyce responds: “f*** off”.

Mr Boikov tells Mr Joyce he caught him on camera, laughs and says goodbye.

Mr Boikov was granted early release from prison in September after he deliberately revealed the suppressed name of an accused paedophile to his legion of followers at a lockdown rally – breaching strict court orders, according to The Daily Telegraph.

He was sentenced to 10 months behind bars in May.

Mr Boikov posts videos to his YouTube supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and condemning Covid vaccination.

Qantas Group announced in August last year all its staff, including Jetstar employees, would need to be fully vaccinated against Covid.

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Frontline employees – including cabin crew, pilots and airport workers – needed to be fully vaccinated by November 15 last year and the remainder of employees had until the end of March this year.

“We understand there will be a very small number of people who decide not to get the vaccine, and that’s their right, but it’s our responsibility to provide the safest possible environment for our employees and for our customers,” Mr Joyce said at the time.

Qantas said a survey of staff – sent to 22,000 with 12,000 responses – found 4 per cent were unwilling or unable to get the jab.

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