Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, who had previously been suspected of financing opponents of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, arrived in Minsk and met with the head of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus, Viktar Lukashenka. The meeting was reported by the press service of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus.
The occasion for the meeting was the so-called Cup of the Strongest in swimming. Mazepin, who was born in Minsk, returned to his hometown as the head of Russia’s Aquatic Sports Federation and vice president of the Russian Olympic Committee.
“Together we opened a very serious tournament today. In swimming, we will try to find more joint projects to develop together. We have a new chairperson of the federation, who is determined to do many good things for the sport. Olga Vasilievna needs support. I am confident that holding the Cup of the Strongest in swimming is the beginning of close cooperation between the federations of the two countries,” Viktar Lukashenka said.
Mazepin, for his part, proposed working together to return athletes from Russia and Belarus to the international stage. Sanctions were imposed on the athletes after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“We recently met with colleagues in Samara and discussed many things. We agreed to continue working together on the international stage to bring athletes from our countries back to the global arena. We are glad that many doors are opening to us. Minsk has an excellent swimming pool. I think the water here will be fast, with excellent and spacious stands. Holding the Cup of the Strongest in swimming in Minsk will benefit the development of this sport,” Dmitry Mazepin said.
The director general and majority owner of Uralchem, Dmitry Mazepin was accused by Belarusian state propaganda of financing opponents of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in 2020, including the Telegram channel Nexta. Mazepin denied all accusations.
