Paralympic Group Lifts Sanctions on Russia and Belarus
Ukraine Condemns IPC Decision to Lift Sanctions on Russia and Belarus The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has made a controversial decision to lift all sanctions against Russia and Belarus, sparking strong reactions from Ukraine. The country's government and sports officials have criticized the move, accusing those who supported it of betraying their conscience and Olympic values. The sanctions were initially imposed in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This conflict saw Russian forces using Belarusian territory as a route to attack Kyiv. As a result, both nations faced restrictions on their participation in international sporting events. At the IPC's general assembly held in Seoul, the organization first voted against a full suspension of Russia. The result was 111 votes in favor, 55 against, with 11 abstentions. A subsequent vote was conducted on the partial suspension that had been in place, which also failed, with 91 votes against ...