Milan-Cortina, Kiev: ‘Scandalous Russians and Belarusians with their flags at the Paralympics’

Milan, 18 February (LaPresse) – ‘The decision by the Paralympic organisers to allow murderers and their accomplices to participate in the Paralympic Games under their national flags is disappointing and scandalous.’ This is what Ukrainian Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi wrote in a post on X. ‘It is disappointing that the leaders of international non-governmental organisations are trying to ignore the obvious: Russia exploits the vulnerabilities of open societies and international organisations to normalise its crimes,’ the post reads, “the flags of Russia and Belarus have no place in international sporting events that represent fairness, integrity and respect. These are the flags of regimes that have turned sport into a tool of war, lies and contempt.‘ ’In Russia, Paralympic sport has been made a pillar for those whom Putin sent to Ukraine to kill and who returned from Ukraine with injuries and disabilities. Athletes and para-athletes in Russia glorify war and receive state honours. That is why Ukraine has imposed sanctions on sports propagandists, the Russian Paralympic Committee and its president, Pavel Rozhkov,‘ Bidnyi continues, ’giving them a platform means giving voice to war propaganda. When the Russian flag is raised on the international stage, it becomes part of Russia’s propaganda machine. It sends the message to the world that war is “normal”. No, it is not normal. It is deeply scandalous that International Paralympic Committee officials refuse to understand this.‘ ’If there is a will to protect justice in Paralympic sport, it is not too late to come to your senses and ban the state symbols of murderers from international competitions. Show courage, don’t let the Russians use you to “normalise” war,‘ concludes the Ukrainian Minister, ’Ukraine will continue its work on all international platforms. We will continue to defend the values of open societies. And we will continue to fight against Russia’s attempts to politicise sport.”