State Duma deputy Svishchev will appeal to the ECHR because of the recommendations of the Latvian Olympic Committee to avoid Russians at the Olympics

First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Physical Culture and Sports of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Dmitry Svishchev told Match TV that he is preparing a lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in connection with the recommendations of the Latvian Olympic Committee for its athletes to avoid any contacts, general photographs and communication with representatives of Russia and Belarus.

Earlier, LETA reported that the Latvian Olympic Committee had issued recommendations for its athletes ordering them to avoid any contact, shared photographs and communication outside of competitions with representatives of Russia and Belarus at the 2026 Olympic Games.

— The recommendations of the Latvian Olympic Committee are not just a blatant case of discrimination. This is a deliberate destruction of the very foundations of the Olympic movement, the spirit of which has always been equality, fair fight and unity outside of politics.

Calling on athletes to avoid contact, shared photographs, and even communication with colleagues from Russia and Belarus is not protocol; it is the ideology of sports apartheid. Such actions flagrantly violate the principles of the Olympic Charter, which prohibit any form of discrimination, and turn athletes into hostages of political hysteria.

Sport should unite, not divide. But, apparently, for Latvian sports officials, what is more important is not the results or fair fight, but the demonstration of their racist and Russophobic views. This is a shame for the entire global sports community.

I don’t intend to leave this unanswered. I am preparing an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against the Olympic Committee of Latvia to protect the interests of Russian athletes whose rights are grossly violated by these recommendations. If Latvia has forgotten what human rights are, we will remind them through international legal mechanisms.

We will also send official requests to the International Olympic Committee demanding a legal assessment of these scandalous instructions and take action against those who are trying to turn sports grounds into an arena for political provocations.

I wish our athletes strength of spirit and confidence. They go to win and show their highest class, and not to participate in petty political games. And those who are trying to isolate them should remember: sport has always been stronger than any temporary political situation. Your discrimination only strengthens our unity and will to win,” Svishchev told a Match TV correspondent.

The 2026 Olympics will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6 to 22.