Lukashenka urged Belarusian Olympians to "punch other athletes in the face" at the Olympics
Details
"You understand, mood and anger in sports is of no small importance."
During a conversation with journalists, Lukashenko speculated about the performance of Belarusian athletes at the Olympics in Paris in a neutral status.
"Of course, we wanted the anthem, flag and so on, as it should be. But I understand athletes: it's their life. <...> It's the athlete's business. If he decides to participate in the Olympics, he will be even angrier. You understand that mood and anger in sports is important. But if you are selected and go there in a neutral status, beat them up, show them that you are a real Belarusian.
It's not specified who exactly Lukashenka urged to "punch in the face.
Recall, December 8 last year, the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that Belarusians and Russians will be able to perform at the Games in Paris in 2024 in a neutral status. Athletes and personnel who "actively support the war" will not be allowed to compete.
Memorial to the fallen Moldovan soldiers of the Transnistrian War in Chisinau. Photo: Alexander Moisseenko
Thirty-three years ago, a ceasefire brought an end to the Transnistrian War—sometimes described by locals as the Russian-Moldovan War. Although the tensions officially ended in 1992, its consequences continue to shape Moldovan politics, society, and security — especially in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Finland is moving to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the decision comes as a direct response to growing aggression from Russia.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has approved a set of controversial laws, including a “foreign agent” act aimed at NGOs and media. Critics say it mimics the U.S. FARA but is weaponized against dissent.
We regret to inform you that due to lack of funding we are forced to discontinue the English version of our website. This decision was not easy for us, as we have always strived to provide quality and timely information for our international audience and Russian-speaking readers. Unfortunately, the current financial realities leave us no other choice.
The Russian-language version of the site will continue to operate, but in a limited mode. We understand that this will create inconvenience for many of our readers, and we apologize for possible interruptions in the provision of news and analytical materials on this resource.
We appeal to you, our loyal readers, with a request to support our editorial staff. Your help will allow us to continue our work and provide you with important and relevant news. Please go to the support page and make your contribution to the development of independent journalism.
We thank you for your understanding and look forward to your support during this difficult time.
The Russian capital faced one of the largest terrorist attacks in its history. The terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, which claimed the lives of many innocent people, was the second largest after the Beslan tragedy. But unlike previous attacks, this incident is shrouded in a layer of contradictory facts and ambiguities that point to possible miscalculations by the Russian security services
