“We admire the courage of the Belarusian democratic opposition in striving to restore democracy in Belarus, as well as their dedication and determination in pursuing the interests of Belarusian athletes. We confirm our willingness to cooperate with the Belarusian democratic opposition,”

– said Minister of Sport and Tourism Sławomir Nitras during the meeting.

The minister agreed with the visiting delegation that authoritarian Belarus should be subject to severe sports sanctions so as to prevent Lukashenko’s regime from using sport for political purposes. Belarusian sports federations and organizations, closely connected to the current government and the Belarusian army, should be excluded from the world of sport. At the same time, dissident athletes who oppose the authoritarian government should be allowed to compete in major international sporting events. Minister Nitras assured the representatives of the Belarusian opposition of his support for the idea to include Belarusian dissident athletes in the Refugee Olympic Team for the Paris Games. Minister Nitras announced consultations with the Polish Olympic Committee with the aim to identify possible steps to fulfil the proposal. Possibilities of support provision to athletes who have found refuge in Poland fleeing from Lukashenko’s repressions were also discussed.

The Ministry of Sport and Tourism intends to continue the dialogue with the Belarusian democratic opposition on matters and problems relating to the situation of Belarusian athletes in the framework of a special working group operating in support of the Minister of Sport and Tourism.

„We understand the tragedy of the dissident athletes and we agree that there should be a systemic solution making it possible for them to continue their careers,”

– said minister Nitras.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, was also attended by Pavel Latushko, head of the Belarussian opposition’s National Anti-Crisis Management and former Belarussian ambassador to Poland, as well as the Ministry’s Secretaries of State Piotr Borys and Ireneusz Raś and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.