Speaker of the Seimas and the Minister of Liechtenstein discussed the banning of Russian athletes from international sports competitions

Press release, 19 April 2023 

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, has met Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sports of the Principality of Liechtenstein, in Vilnius today. They discussed the banning of Russian athletes from international sports competitions as a means of Russia’s international isolation.

‘Every democracy is aware that Russia uses sports as an instrument of power and propaganda. It is utterly unacceptable that Russian, as well as Belarusian, athletes take part in the Olympic Games and other international sports competitions, even under a neutral flag. Western democracies, therefore, must step up pressure on Russia in the form of sanctions and international isolation, including in sports competitions,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said at the meeting.  

According to the Speaker of the Seimas, in this respect, the position of national Parliaments plays an important role. As a result, she drew the attention of Liechtenstein’s Minister to the resolution unanimously adopted by the Seimas on 10 March 2023. The resolution calls for banning Russian and Belarussian athletes and officials from participating in the Olympic Games and other international sports competitions without any reservations, even under a neutral flag, and for refraining to extend any related invitations to them.   

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42 071, e-mail: [email protected], www.lrs.lt