Dictator should not get the World Cup

• 12.06.2012, 10:46

Bundestag deputies continue to insist on the transfer of the World Hockey Championship from Minsk.

“I am deeply concerned about the human rights-situation in Belarus. The violent repression of political protests in the aftermath of the Presidential elections in 2010 and the executions of Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalyov in March of this year are just the tip of the iceberg. The Government of Belarus must put a moratorium on capital punishment in place, with the goal of eliminating it completely. Moreover, Belarus needs to release all of the remaining political prisoners and grant the freedom of assembly.

Yet, it seems that President Lukashenka is determined to tighten his grip on power by all authoritarian means. We know that he exploits sports, particularly Ice Hockey, to consolidate and enlarge his ruthless security-apparatus. That is why I continue to call on the International Ice Hockey Federation to suspend the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship in Minsk,” - this statement was made by a member of Bundestag from Free Democratic Party Marina Schuster.