Ukraine urges IPC to maintain suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from global competitions

The Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Matvii Bidnyi, along with Valerii Sushkevych, President of the National Sports Committee of Disabled of Ukraine, and Oleksandr Kamyshin, President of the Chess Federation of Ukraine, have sent a letter to Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee. They urge the continuation of restrictions on Russian and Belarusian chess players, including athletes with disabilities.

According to Rubryka, citing the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the appeal follows a decision made during the General Assembly of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on September 21-22, 2024. FIDE proposed discussing the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions.

Ukrainian sports organizations stress that the war initiated by Russia and supported by Belarus is the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II. Since Russia's full-scale invasion, more than 500 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed, including 21 chess players, with two more missing.

The letter states, "The Russian and Belarusian sports community serves as an instrument of state policy in these countries," and calls for sanctions on their sports organizations and athletes to remain in place as long as the war persists. Ukrainian officials further highlight that Russian forces, with the support of Belarus, continue their aggression in Ukraine, justifying the need to maintain or even strengthen current restrictions.

The Ukrainian sports community looks to the International Paralympic Committee for solidarity and responsibility in this matter.