The Saeima of Latvia on Thursday, April 28, in the final reading adopted amendments to the Law on Sports, according to which athletes and coaches are prohibited from participating in competitions held in Russia and Belarus. This was reported by the press service of the Parliament on the official website.
In particular, the amendments prohibit sports teams from Latvia from participating in the national championships, cup competitions of Russia and Belarus, as well as international leagues, where more than half of the team members represent these two countries.
“Those who violate this ban will not be allowed to be included in the national team, and will not be able to receive funds from the state or local budget to cover the costs of training or competitions,” the report said.
In addition, the law prohibits Latvian sports organizations, athletes and coaches from cooperating with sports agents from Russia and Belarus.
Amendments to the Sports Law come into force on the day following their publication.
Earlier, on April 26, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) deprived Russia of the right to host the 2023 World Championship. The World Championship was to be held in St. Petersburg from May 5 to May 21, 2023. The decision on the new location will be made during the World Championships in Finland, which will be held from 13 to 29 May.
On February 28, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that it had suspended relations with Russian business partners and would not plan competitions in Russia.
The actions were taken against the background of Russia’s conduct of a special operation to protect the Donbass, the beginning of which was announced on February 24. The situation in the region escalated significantly in mid-February due to shelling by the Ukrainian military. The authorities of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics announced the evacuation of residents to the Russian Federation. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR, as well as treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. The documents were ratified the next day.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
