Ukraine’s Ombudsman to IOC and IPC: Allowing russian symbols while their military continues to torture and kill is not neutrality – it is complicity in the silencing of crimes

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Ukraine has appealed to the leadership of the international Olympic and Paralympic movement with criticism of the decisions regarding the admission of symbols of the russian Federation and Belarus, Ombudsman of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets said in a statement.

I have officially appealed to the President of the International Olympic Committee [IOC], Kirsty Coventry, and to the President of the International Paralympic Committee [IPC], Andrew Parsons, regarding decisions that contradict the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

Allowing the symbols of russia and Belarus while the military of the aggressor countries torture and kill is not neutrality – it is moral complicity in the silencing of crimes.

And against this backdrop, the committee’s recent decisions seem particularly cynical. The disqualification of Vladyslav Heraskevych for honoring the memory of fallen Ukrainian athletes is punishment for humanity.

So on one hand, we “punish” a person for showing respect, and on the other hand, we allow the aggressor state to display its flags and anthems on the international stage…

I remind the international community: russia shells Ukrainian cities daily. Over 800 sports facilities have been destroyed. More than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed. Dozens of Ukrainian athletes are in russian captivity. They are being tortured. They are being held in inhumane conditions.

Therefore, instead of discussing flags and anthems, the International Paralympic Committee should issue one clear and public demand: immediately release Ukrainian athletes from captivity. It should call for an end to the killings and maiming of people. Everything else is an attempt to create an illusion of being “above politics” while a war is raging.

 I demand a return to the principle of neutral status for representatives of the aggressor state. And I demand that the issue of releasing Ukrainian athletes from captivity become a subject of public international pressure – particularly from institutions such as the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. I call on them to demand the release of absolutely all Ukrainian athletes!

🔴Free Oleh – President of the Wushu/Kung fu and Qigong Federation of one of Ukraine’s regions, multiple-time Champion of Ukraine, winner of European and World Cups in wushu. He was illegally detained by the russians 11 years ago – in 2015!

🔴Free Dmytro – a 60-year-old international category referee and boxing coach. While in captivity, this Ukrainian suffered a heart attack and is in an extremely dangerous condition regarding his health. He was abducted in 2022.

🔴Free Oleksandr – a 51-year-old children’s coach. According to former prisoners who have been released, Oleksandr has a leg injury. He was abducted in 2022.

🔴Free Andrii – a 48-year-old coach and instructor, head of the Kung Fu Association in one of Ukrainian cities. Andrii was captured in 2022 in occupied Melitopol. He has been sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment.

I appeal to the international community, sports federations, athletes, and Ukrainians around the world – speak about this loudly. Speak about all those who have been abducted. Take part in peaceful protests. Write appeals. Raise this issue on every international platform.

World sports must stand on the side of life! Ukrainians must return home!