President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is preparing a new sanctions package against Russian citizens who support the war and use sport for military purposes.
He said this during an address on February 15.
“We are preparing a new sanctions package against Russian individuals who work for the war and put sports at the service of the war. The documents have already been prepared,” the head of state said.
Zelensky stressed that this Ukrainian package of restrictions should be a “signal” to the world.
“A signal that we cannot simply turn a blind eye to supporting aggression. When Ukrainians at the Olympics are forbidden to even remember the victims of Russian aggression, this is definitely a global setback from justice. We will restore justice. The decree on sanctions will be issued soon,” the president emphasized.
What is known about the disqualification of skeletonist Vladsylav Geraskevych
On February 9, Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladislav Geraskevych showed up for training on the Olympic track wearing a “special” helmet. It depicted Ukrainian athletes who died in Russian attacks. After training, Geraskevych said in an exclusive comment to Suspilne Sport that he was having “certain problems” because of the helmet.
Geraskevych was disqualified after a meeting with IOC President Kirsty Coventry. The committee president tried to convince the Ukrainian skeletonist to change his position on the “memory helmet” and not wear it on the sports field during the competition itself, but he refused.
After the meeting with Coventry, Geraskevych received a letter from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, which stated that the Ukrainian skeletonist violated the rules by using a “memory helmet”, which “violates the Olympic Charter.”
In a statement, the IOC emphasized that the disqualification was not related to “the message, but the location” where Geraskevych wanted to demonstrate the helmet, and also provided his own chronology of events.
Geraskevych responded by providing an exclusive commentary for Suspilne Sport with details of the meeting with Coventry, and also spoke about his plans to file a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over his disqualification.
On February 13, CAS dismissed Wladyslaw Geraskiewicz's claim against the IOC, explaining that “freedom of expression is permitted at the Olympics, but not at the competition venue.” The decision was made by German arbitrator Annette Rombach.
Zelensky awarded Geraskevych the Order of Freedom.