All of the EU except Bulgaria and Hungary Demand the Expulsion of Russia from World Sports

The sports ministers of more than 30 European and non-European countries adopted a common call for Russia and Belarus to be completely removed from international sports. Bulgaria and Hungary are not among the EU countries, and from the European Economic Area Switzerland has not signed up

Polish Minister Kamil Bortniczuk presented the common position, which states:

"We demand the suspension of the membership of Russian and Belarusian sports unions in international federations, the removal of the representatives of these countries from the governing bodies of international federations and the suspension of the broadcasting of international sports events in Russia."

A joint statement on additional sanctions in the field of sport has been signed by 25 countries from the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Iceland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Norway.

This is the second joint position of sports ministers from Europe and other parts of the world. The first was presented on March 8, shortly after Russia's aggression against Ukraine. "We recommended to the international federations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams from international competitions and to withdraw Russia and Belarus from the right to organize major international events," recalled Minister Bortniczuk.

The ministers say that Russia has chosen to launch an unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, supported by the Belarusian government, which is unacceptable, a flagrant violation of Moscow's international obligations, and respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations are at the heart of international sport.

"As a group of like-minded...