STOLBTSY, 8 December (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the decision of the International Olympic Committee to suspend the Belarusian president and the National Olympic Committee of Belarus from the Olympic Games as he spoke to the personnel of Stolbtsy Central District Hospital on 8 December, BelTA has learned.
“We need to take legal action. Let [IOC President Thomas] Bach and his ilk tell me what my fault is. Is it about me protecting my country?! The overwhelming majority of you support me in this policy. I protect my country. I protect you. Why punish me by banning me from some events?... I have not attended the Games for 25 years. I guess I can live with that. Why do they do this? Have they convened the entire International Olympic Committee, all the member states, more than a hundred of them, to discuss the matter? They are afraid of sticking their neck out because of COVID-19,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“It's okay with me, but why involve my children?” the president said. “What sanctions have they introduced after all? Not to invite to events? I have not attended them for 25 years and I will survive it. I was most outraged by their decision against my children. This is absolutely groundless,” the head of state added.
The president recalled the IOC decision taken in 2016 to suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee from the Paralympics in Brazil. “Do you remember when they all went against Russia? The United States commanded them to attack and they were happy to obey. Let's see whether Russia will support us,” the Belarusian leader said.
“What a ‘just' world we are living in!... Remember: there is no justice in the world. If you pursue a fair policy, you will be rejected by everybody. You will be the enemy,” the head of state said.
