The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine are outraged by the statements made by the Vice President of the International Olympic Committee and candidate for IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., regarding the possible reintegration of the Russian Federation into the international sports community.
The IOC Vice President has shown not only disregard for Ukraine but also for the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, declaring the need to "work very hard" to "immediately" restore Russia’s membership in the International Olympic Committee once it returns to compliance with the Charter. He justified his words by claiming that the IOC should not "take sides" in conflicts, and that Russian aggression is merely one of "more than forty" armed conflicts worldwide.
We believe such statements demonstrate either the IOC Vice President’s lack of awareness regarding Russia’s aggression or his desire to justify the aggressor, which is incompatible with aspiring to lead the International Olympic Committee. The leader of the Olympic Movement must uphold the principles of peace, justice, and respect for international law.
It is necessary to remind that sanctions, isolation, and exclusion of Russia from international sporting events were a response to its unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine and atrocities unseen in Europe since World War II.
As of now, the reasons for these actions have not changed—Russia has neither ceased its aggression nor its atrocities. It continues its brutal war against Ukraine, which has already resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, including more than 500 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, and the damage or destruction of over 500 sports facilities in Ukraine, including 16 Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic training bases.
Amid the ongoing aggressive war by their country against Ukraine, Russian sports officials continue to espouse aggressive rhetoric and demonstrate Russia's complete unwillingness to adhere to the principles of peace and respect. This is yet another confirmation of the well-known fact that sport in the Russian Federation is an extension of state policy and is used by the Russian government as a tool of war propaganda and hybrid influence.
The suggestions of a possible return of Russian athletes to the international sports community are categorically unacceptable and outrageous.
We remind that the Olympic Movement is based on principles of peace, respect, and mutual understanding between nations. Proposals to reintegrate Russia into the international sports community without fulfilling its international obligations and ceasing its aggression against Ukraine undermine these principles.
We call on the IOC and its members to remain faithful to Olympic values and to prevent the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions while Russian aggression against Ukraine continues.
We insist on maintaining and strengthening existing sanctions against the sports federations of Russia and Belarus, as well as the citizens of these countries.
We express our sincere gratitude to the international community for supporting Ukraine during this difficult time and count on continued solidarity in the fight for peace and justice.