Фото: Reform.by
Lithuania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Sport said it intends to resume discussions on legal options for banning athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in competitions held in the country. The move follows an appeal by 31 sports federations to Lithuania’s leadership, LRT reported, citing Elta.
In their appeal to the president, prime minister and speaker of the Seimas, the sports organisations said that in the context of Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine, the value-based position of sports organisations alone was no longer sufficient. They called for amendments to the Law on Sport to be adopted during the Seimas spring session that would clearly ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams — including those competing under a neutral flag — from competitions held in Lithuania.
In response, the ministry said it would resume discussions primarily at the inter-agency level and assess the need for legal solutions. At the same time, the ministry stressed that sport should not be separated from the political and social context, and that discussions should also cover business, culture and other areas.
The presidential office said the head of state considers the participation of athletes from aggressor countries in international competitions unacceptable. Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas said the issue of legal regulation would be addressed. Prime Minister representative Ignas Dobrovolskas also described the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions under national symbols as unacceptable.
At present, Lithuania only has recommendations not to invite athletes from those countries to competitions, while binding legal norms have not yet been introduced.