Belarus: despite criticism, Lukashenko wants his ice hockey World Cup
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) greets the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation, René Fasel, in Minsk on Monday, January 11, 2021. AP - Nikolai Petrov
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Ice hockey is a sport that Alexander Lukashenko enjoys and that he practices with his distinguished guests, like Vladimir Putin.
His country should, in principle, organize the 2021 World Ice Hockey World Cup in late May-early June, jointly with Latvia.
But many voices are raised to deprive Belarus of Mondial to protest against the repression of the protest movement.
Pressure that the Belarusian president considers unfair, as he told the boss of the International Ice Hockey Federation, René Fasel, visiting Minsk.
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A warm hug, a long shake of the hand, a broad smile, Alexandre Loukachenko receives René Fasel in his presidential palace, whom he calls his "friend".
His press service released images of the start of the meeting with the Swiss boss of the International Ice Hockey Federation who declared at the end of December that he would do “
everything possible
” to ensure that the World-2021 takes place. well in Belarus.
“
I want to assure you that there is and will be no danger in Belarus, neither regarding the coronavirus, nor from a political point of view.
Here, protesters and other dissatisfied people do not assault government buildings and Capitolites.
We have a completely normal situation with regard to the development of the democratic process.
In Belarus, everything is fine.
You are an experienced person and you understand what is happening: I am accused of protecting my country and my people.
But that's why I was elected.
"
An election, however highly contested: since August 9,
demonstrations
calling for the departure of Alexander Lukashenko have been repressed.
According to human rights NGOs, in 5 months, 30,000 people were arrested, at least four demonstrators were killed and numerous accusations of acts of torture by the security forces were documented.
►
To read also: Belarus: "Help us so that Lukashenko does not transform our country into a concentration camp"
On
Telegram
, Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa believes that this world championship will serve as a "
screen
" for "
torture
" and "
murders
" of the regime.
A "
sports celebration
" cannot be held in a country "
where political prisoners languish in dungeons a few kilometers from the ice rinks
", writes the opponent, calling on all national federations to
boycott
the event, if it is organized in Minsk.
►
Also to listen: Belarusian borders closed: "The underlying reason is to make Belarus hermetic to any influence from abroad"
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