The decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cancel recommendations on restrictions for Russians is actively used by the Kremlin for propaganda, both for domestic and foreign audiences. This is reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (CCD), informs UNN.
Details
It is noted that, according to the IOC decision, the right to admit athletes to competitions and performances under the state symbols of the Russian Federation is transferred to the discretion of individual international federations.
For the aggressor state, this could become an opportunity to restore political positions and strengthen influence in the world. Propagandists and official representatives of the Russian Federation are already calling this a "great victory" for Russia and are using this step for internal propaganda about the "ineffectiveness of sanctions" and the "breakthrough of isolation"
There, they emphasize that for Russia, sport has never been outside politics, "it has always been a tool of 'soft power' to justify the Kremlin's actions and whitewash the image of the aggressor state."
"The return of the Russian flag and anthem to world competitions at a time when occupation troops continue to wage a brutal war against Ukraine is unacceptable. The state symbols of the Russian Federation, under which Ukrainians are killed every day, cannot be part of the international sports movement," - emphasize at the CCD.
Reminder
The International Olympic Committee temporarily lifted restrictions on the Russian Olympic Committee, which were imposed after the ROC included the Olympic committees from the occupied territories of Ukraine into its composition.