The great unrest that is taking place in Belarus has led to the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF)'s plans to host this year's ice hockey World Cup in the country being questioned.
On Monday, the President of the IIHF, René Fasel, and the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, met to talk about the championship, which is scheduled to take place in May 2021.
During the meeting, which did not result in any information, the President and the President hugged.
Which was captured on video.
The meeting and the hug are now condemned by Karin Karlsbro (L), Vice-President of the European Parliament delegation to Belarus.
- It is completely unacceptable and a shame that the IIHF continues to legitimize the Belarusian regime, as through today's loving meeting, Karlsbro says in a press release.
Last year, Karin Karlsbro took the initiative for a letter from MEPs to the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The letter, signed by some 40 MEPs, demanded that Belarus be deprived of hosting the World Ice Hockey Championships.
- The International Ice Hockey Federation has chosen not to respond to the many objections to the Belarusian hosting of the World Cup, despite the daily oppression to which the regime exposes its citizens.
The fact that the plans to arrange the championship in Minsk continue is disgusting and is a mockery of all those who protest against the oppression in the country, says Karin Karlsbro.
CLIP: Lukashenko: "There will be no political danger in Belarus" (January 11, 2021)
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Lukashenko: "There will be no political danger in Belarus" Photo: Hanna Liubakova Twitter / TT News Agency