Russian athletes are taking part in the genocidal war against Ukraine as sappers, commanders, and tank operators, as per Ukraine's Defense Intelligence. Despite this, they have been allowed, for the first time in 12 years, to compete at the Paralympic Games under their own national flag.
Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, as well as Canada and the UK, have already declared their intention to join the protest. In addition, protest rallies are planned in Milan and near the headquarters of the International Paralympic Committee in Bonn, Germany.
Doping scandals had already deprived Russia of participation in the Games
Since 2014, Russian athletes have twice been suspended from participating in the Paralympic Games: first due to a state-sponsored doping program, and in 2022 after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Since 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been excluded from most international competitions.
Now, however, they are returning to competition under national symbols, which has provoked a sharp reaction from part of civil society.
“This is not only about sport, but about honor and solidarity”
From 6 to 15 March, the 14th Winter Paralympic Games will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
“We call on Ukrainians and concerned citizens around the world to support the boycott..., where participation of Russian Federation athletes under the national flag of the aggressor state has been allowed,” says Dmytro Vasylenko, the head of the community.
Such a decision undermines the values of the Paralympic movement and effectively legitimizes a country that is waging war against Ukraine and destroying the lives of our citizens every day.
“We call on activists, politicians, opinion leaders, and civil society organizations to join the information and civic boycott campaign so that international sport is not used for propaganda of aggression,” Vasylenko claims.
Only through the joint efforts of Ukraine, Ukrainians abroad, and the international community can sport and culture be defended as a space of human dignity and fair competition, and prevented from being turned into instruments for justifying aggression and violence.
“It is a matter of honor, justice, and solidarity with a world that chooses freedom and democracy rather than violence and terror in the legal sphere,” the statement says.
The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine earlier stated that the Ukrainian Paralympic team will not take part in the opening ceremony of the 14th Winter Paralympic Games in 2026 due to the admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus to the competition.
It noted that neither Russia nor Belarus has passed the qualifying process to obtain licenses to participate in the games.
Also, it claimed that the Russian government openly states at the country's sports forums that sport in Russia is a tool of state policy.
