Belarus may be left without 2014 International Ice Hockey Championship

Jerzy Buzek calls on the International Ice Hockey Federation to suspend its 2014 championship in Minsk.

President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and other leading European lawmakers appeal to the head of the International Ice Hockey Federation calling to suspend 2014 International Ice Hockey Championship in Minsk until all political prisoners are released, Radio Svaboda reports.

Jerzy Buzek writes in his letter:

“The behaviour of the Belarusian regime clearly disqualifies it from the privilege of holding a major sporting event such as the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship.

We urge the International Hockey Federation to take appropriate action to ensure that Lukashenka does not receive the international reward or legitimacy which comes with hosting the 2014 Ice Hockey Championship until he releases all political prisoners. Belarus has been ruled by the brutal and undemocratic Lukashenka regime for almost two decades. The EU and the US have strongly condemned Lukashenka's actions. His regime arrested hundreds of peaceful demonstrators including presidential candidates, opposition leaders, journalists, civil society representatives as well as ordinary Belarusians. The 2014 ice hockey championships cannot be held in Belarus under these appalling conditions.”

American democratic Senator Dick Durbin made the same request to the International Ice Hockey Federation in April. In his letter to the Federation leaders, Durbin called the regime of Lukashenka “totalitarian nightmare” and underlined that his regime should not be rewarded with the prestige associated with hosting the 2014 International Ice Hockey Championship while his citizens languish in jail for peacefully trying to exercise minimal political freedoms.

The letter was also signed by Slovak ice hockey player Peter Stastny, National Hockey League Hall of Famer and Member of European Parliament.