"Fasel seems to have changed his mind about a World Cup in Belarus"

From the beginning, the plan was that the Ice Hockey World Cup would have been played in Latvia and Belarus.

But after the controversial presidential election in Belarus, where Alexander Lukashenko was said to have won by a large majority, Latvia refuses to host the championship with Belarus.

Belarus's organization has been criticized and questioned from many quarters as the country is criticized for lack of respect for human rights and the regime's harsh crackdown on those protesting against the government.

Now it looks like Belarus will not host the World Cup either.

"Easiest to play in Latvia"

- Yes, it seems to be turning in that direction.

We will most likely start looking at other options, but we are not officially there.

It takes some time to go through the other alternatives, says the International Ice Hockey Federation's vice chairman Kalervo Kummola to the Finnish public service company Yle.

- Perhaps the easiest thing would be to play the matches in Latvia.

The chairman of the International Ice Hockey Federation, IIHF, René Fasel met with Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko to talk about the World Cup on Monday.

- Fasel seems to have changed his mind about a World Cup in Belarus, says Kummola.

However, Fasel denies the information.

"Shocking pictures"

In connection with the meeting, Lukashenko and Fasel were hugged - which has attracted a lot of attention.

According to Kummola, they have discussed the hug within the IIHF.

- Yes, he was a little scared himself.

They must have agreed that the press would not be present, but there it was.

It only shows that Lukashenko wants to convey his own propaganda.

- It was quite shocking pictures.

No later than January 27, when the IIHF meets, a decision will be made on the host country for the World Cup.