Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Thursday she will boycott the upcoming Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games in protest of a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
“I had planned the trip to support our Paralympic athletes and the committee, but this trip will not take place, and our athlete representing Lithuania will have to be honoured here in Lithuania,” Ruginienė told the radio Žinių Radijas.
Ruginienė reiterated her criticism of the International Olympic Committee, saying its decision “does not reflect today’s reality”.
“We need unity and resilience against all provocations, and we must say that in Europe we stand united and believe in Ukraine’s victory,” she said.
The Lithuanian Paralympic Committee on Wednesday also strongly criticised the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in this year’s Paralympic Games under their national flags.
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