Putin Condemns Countries Resisting Russia's Return to International Ice Hockey, Calling It a Violation of Law and Court Rulings
Moscow — Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 5 condemned countries resisting Russia's return to international sport, saying they are violating the rights of Russian athletes and democratic institutions themselves. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) decision barring Russian teams, but sports bodies in several countries, including Canada, Denmark and Sweden, have said their national teams will not play against Russia. Speaking by video link to a government meeting, Putin said the decisions by CAS, the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations to restore Russia's right to compete were 'defending the Olympic Charter and its principles.'
'But unfortunately, not all countries are prepared to honour the obligations they once made. And they continue to impose not legal, but politicised restrictions on Russian sports,' Putin said, in comments posted on the Kremlin website. 'This is a clear and blatant violation of the law and court decisions and therefore of the very institutions of democracy.' He added that it was up to Russia's National Olympic Committee 'definitely to continue working to protect the interests of Russian athletes.'
The CAS last week upheld appeals lodged by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation against the IIHF's barring of its teams from events during the 2026-27 season. Since the ruling, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Latvia and the Czech Republic have said they will refuse to play Russia. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Russia and Belarus would be barred from the World Junior Championship beginning next month in Alberta, while the Finnish city of Turku threatened to drop hosting duties for the 2028 World Junior Championship. The CAS on November 5 acknowledged the divisive reaction to its ruling in favour of Russia's return to international ice hockey competition, but reiterated that the decision was based solely on the evidence submitted. The IOC and international sports bodies have barred Russia from Olympic and international competition since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
(Source: Reuters)
Source: Reuters
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：俄罗斯总统普京（2026年1月22日）。克里姆林宫照片，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin, January 22, 2026. Kremlin photo, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
