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Paralympics Greenlights Russia and Belarus Return Despite Ukraine Invasion and 2022 Ban
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has reinstated the full membership rights of the Russian and Belarusian national committees after delegates voted against extending sanctions imposed following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to the IPC’s official statement on September 27, the decision was made during the General Assembly held in Seoul, South Korea.
Delegates representing national Paralympic committees, international federations, and disability sports organizations voted on several proposals, including the possibility of fully suspending the Russian Paralympic Committee. The motion received 111 votes in favor and 55 against, with 11 abstentions—falling short of the required majority.
A second proposal to continue partial restrictions on Russia’s membership also did not pass. Similar votes on Belarus ended with the same outcome, meaning both national committees regain their full rights and privileges within the IPC framework.
Membership of the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic Committees was originally suspended in November 2022 due to “breaches of constitutional membership obligations.” The suspension followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, supported by Belarus, which began just before the Beijing Winter Paralympics in violation of the Olympic Truce.
The IPC has not yet clarified whether reinstatement will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. The decision comes ahead of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, scheduled to begin on March 6 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Ukraine maintains a law prohibiting its national teams from participating in competitions where athletes from Russia or Belarus are present under state symbols and without strict neutrality. The Ministry of Youth and Sports adopted this regulation on July 26, 2023.
Earlier, Russia suspended the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee in 2022 following the full-scale invasion, while Ukrainian officials continue to emphasize that the forced involvement of children in propaganda and sports programs in occupied territories is part of a broader campaign of indoctrination.
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-0158b6b681e3668f470de36aedad9e3c.jpg "Russian Su-24 bomber moments before Ukrainian drone strike, Crimea. (Source: HUR)")
