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J. Šiugždinienė addressed the EC Commissioner in view of the forced landing of a civilian plane in Minsk by the Aliaksandr Lukashenko regime.
“Sanctions and other measures take time and careful preparation, but now some measures can be taken. An example is the EC and its recommendation to international sports federations and their organizations to suspend all planned international sports events in Belarus until the country becomes democratic and the rights of athletes to compete in a peaceful and safe environment are guaranteed, “the Minister wrote in a letter to the European Commissioner.
“It just came to our attention then. In autocratic regimes, and the European Union now unanimously agrees that such a regime works in Belarus, sport is also a tool of power, a way to legitimize the regime in the international community. The achievements of sport unite people from all over the world, but also give dictators the opportunity to gain political confidence in the eyes of their people, ”he said.
According to J. Šiugždinienė, international organizations should support fair policies and fair sports.
In January this year, the International Hockey Federation canceled the World Championships in Minsk. Last week, the European Cycling Union decided to cancel the European Track Cycling Championships, which was to take place in Belarus in June.
The Lithuanian Prime Minister, Ingrida Šimonyt la, and the Lithuanian Cycling Federation proposed to hold this event in Panevėžys.
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