Alyaksandr Atroshchankau: “Crackdown on oppostion will only grow after IIHF's decision”

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, a coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign and former political prisoner, comments on a decision to hold the ice hockey world championship in Minsk.

“I'd like to think a decision to hold the ice hockey world championship in Minsk was a great mistake. Unfortunately, it isn't a mistake, but a conscious decision which is most likely to lead to intensifying repression against democratic activists and crackdown on independent media ahead of the championship. I do not think there's misunderstanding in this case. Influential politicians, journalists, sportsmen presented clear explanations and arguments to hockey officials. Some corruption schemes may be the point here. A decision to hold the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk is another evidence of a decomposing effect of the Belarusian dictatorship on certain politicians, officials and even international organizations,” Alyaksandr Atroshchanaku told charter97.org.