International Ice Hockey Federation asked to cancel Championship in Belarus

Human rights in Belarus are violated deliberately and on a regular basis, arrests, searches and crackdown on dissenters are taking place all the time.

“Being guided by the aim to release political prisoners, we must use any possible methods. Even if we are attempting a very unpopular step, as it could provoke negative rejection from the majority of the population,” the BelaPAN quotes the initiator of the address, a leader of “For Freedom” movement regional branch Pyotr Kuznyatsou. “But when in the 21st century the country in the centre of Europe has several dozens of political prisoners, this country should declare mourning, and not to organize sports galas.”

It is stated in the address that human rights in Belarus are violated deliberately and on a regular basis; arrests, searches and crackdown on dissenters are taking place all the time; freedom of expression and peaceful assemblies does not exist. Pro-democracy organizations of the region attract attention of the Federation to the fact that Belarus has political prisoners. “We believe that the situation in Belarus, where the society is polarized after the latest presidential election, is not favourable for holding the world championship. Can we celebrate and enjoy ourselves when innocent people are kept behind the bars? In such a situation the world championship cannot fulfil its main mission – to bring peace and agreement, to unite people,” the address reads.

The signees of the address ask the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to deprive Belarus of the right to organise the world championship in 2014 if the political prisoners in Belarus are not released and their cases closed.

On January 12 the Chairman of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek stated the necessity to block Belarus’ participation in the world championships and in the Olympic Games. I the resolution of the European parliament adopted on January 20 it is stated that the World Ice Hockey Championship is impossible to be held in Belarus, until the country has political prisners.

On March 9 a draft resolution of the Congress on Belarus was submitted to the US Senate. One of its paragraphs calls upon the IIHF to deprive Belarus of the right to hold the World Championship 2014.