The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland issued a joint statement regarding the possible return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international sports.

Appeal to the IOC published on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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We have taken note of the concerns expressed by the UN Special Rapporteurs on the issue of non-discrimination against athletes solely on the basis of nationality. We regret that the IOC has used these concerns as an excuse to radically change its previously well-reasoned position on the recommendation not to invite or allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate in international competitions..

We want to emphasize that it is not the nationality of the athletes that determines their role, but the fact that they are sponsored/supported by their governments or businesses that support the Kremlin regime that continues its aggressive war against Ukraine, or even are affiliated with Russian military entities..

We consider it necessary to recall that the Russian military continues to attack the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, including sports facilities, and kill Ukrainians, including Ukrainian athletes, day after day.. Millions of Ukrainian citizens, including athletes and their families, have been forced to leave their homes in the face of Russian occupation. Many athletes from Ukraine are still unable to participate in sporting events due to the Russian attack on their country..

There is no reason to move away from the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes, established by the IOC more than a year ago, immediately after the start of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. We firmly believe that now is not the time to consider the possibility of the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Olympic Games in any status.

Although the IOC has not yet made a final decision, we urge it to reconsider its plans and return to its original, well-established position supported by the international community.

We remind you that Russia and Belarus have a way to return their athletes to the international sports community, namely the end of the aggressive war unleashed by Russia with the complicity of Belarus, and the restoration of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders"

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Earlier it was reported that in Germany, before the speech of the President of the IOC, a protest was held against the admission of Russians and Belarusians to the 2024 Games.