MINSK, 21 October (BelTA) – Belarus stands in solidarity with the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and sees the charges against Patrick Hickey as unfounded, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said in his address to the participants in the 45th session of the EOC General Assembly in Minsk on 21 October, BelTA has learned.
“Unfortunately, our dear friend, EOC President Patrick Hickey is not present in this room. Belarus fully shares the position of the EOC Executive Committee that there is no evidence of him being guilty of any offenses. I believe that our support and solidarity are important for him,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The head of state stressed: “Sometimes we see smear campaigns waged against the most active functionaries, who not only have their own opinion but are ready to voice it at any time. No one will be able to silence us. We should voice our opinion on all matters openly, honestly and firmly. Together we will be able to defend any of our friends and colleagues.”
71-year-old Patrick Hickey [who was elected President of the European Olympic Committees in 2006] has been accused of selling black-market tickets of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He was arrested after a man was discovered in Rio holding 800 illegal tickets.
Patrick Hickey visited Belarus several times. He was honored with the Order of NOC Belarus for supporting the Olympic movement in the country in 2009. In 2015, Patrick Hickey received the Francysk Skaryna Medal in recognition of his personal contribution to the development of the Belarusian Olympic movement, mass sport and elite sport.
