In support of Ukraine, Latvia prohibits its national teams from facing Russia and Belarus – Libération

The Latvian Parliament adopted an amendment on Thursday prohibiting matches between its national teams and those of its two neighbors because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Minsk’s support for Moscow.

Latvia-Russia or Latvia-Belarus matches at the Paris Olympics? It will be no, the Latvian Parliament decided on Thursday by adopting an amendment prohibiting its national sports teams from taking part in matches against its two overly bellicose neighbors, even if their nationals played under a neutral banner. A measure adopted in support of Ukraine.

Several Latvian athletes have already said they plan to boycott the Games if the Russians take part. Thus, the reigning Olympic 3-on-3 basketball champions announced that their team would not be in the competition if the Russians participated.

“War crimes”

Latvia, a former Soviet state on the Baltic Sea and a member of the European Union and NATO, has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, an operation supported by Belarus. Another amendment passed by Latvian lawmakers prohibits organizers of sporting events in the country from inviting Russian and Belarusian national teams.

“The essential aim of these amendments is to once again demonstrate Latvia’s solidarity with Ukraine and to prevent any attempt by Russia to legitimize its war crimes through peaceful events, such as sporting events,” Parliamentarian Davis Martins Daugavietis, head of the sports subcommittee in Parliament, said before the vote.