Right of reply by the delegation of Ukraine
at the debate of the UN General Assembly on agenda item 12
“Sport for development and peace” 
(12 November 2024)

Mr. President,

This Right of Reply is in response to the statement by the delegate of the Russian Federation.

We reject Russia's attempts to impose its false interpretation of "discrimination in sport" on the international community. The exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international sports competitions due to their support for the war of aggression against Ukraine is not discrimination. It is a justified response by the international community to their complicity in this war.

The delegation of Ukraine strongly opposes the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international sports tournaments while Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues. Allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete ignores international and humanitarian law, which these countries have repeatedly and brutally violated. By failing to condemn this aggression, organizers and participants of international tournaments risk normalizing Russia's war crimes and implying that such crimes carry no consequences.

Mr. President,

It must be remembered that it is under the Russian flag that Russia carries out torture and killings of Ukrainians and occupies Ukrainian territories. Belarus, as Russia’s accomplice in this aggression, is also complicit in these crimes. Therefore, the absence of Russian and Belarusian flags at global sporting events is a matter of essential hygiene that the international community must uphold.

Russia has already killed at least 516 Ukrainian athletes and coaches and destroyed or damaged over 523 sports facilities. We urge the international community to uphold a firm stance and continue isolating Russia and Belarus from global sports for as long as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues.

I thank you.