Fourteen countries and the EU have refused to participate in this event, in which the International Paralympic Committee allowed russia and Belarus to wave their blood-stained flags, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X.
“And the number is growing. We appreciate all of our partners who took this morally sound stance. These aren’t simply flags – these are symbols of an aggressive war that killed at least 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, damaged 800 sports facilities, and resulted in hundreds of thousands of war crimes,” Sybiha said.Read also: Ukraine’s Paralympic team banned by IPC from wearing “political” uniform with map of Ukraine
We strongly urge all countries to refrain from sending officials to the ceremony. Say no to war propaganda and sportswashing, he added.
