Pavel Latushka, deputy head of the cabinet of exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, condemned Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka on November 14 for insulting her Ukrainian opponent and not condemning the Russian war.
“Absolutely unacceptable behavior of Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka! Aryna did not condemn the war of aggression against Ukraine, the massive repression of Belarusians, did not speak out in favor of the release of political prisoners, not even women, and now she insults (Ukrainian Elina Svitolina), against whom a war of annihilation is being waged,” he wrote.
Sabalenka and Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina clashed in the WTA women’s professional tennis final in California on November 13, which resulted in Svitolina securing a victory against her Belarusian opponent.
Reports circulated on social media that Sabalenka had muttered insults against Ukrainians or against Ukraine’s Svitolina.
Latushka reposted Sabalenka’s images alongside her written message on social media platform X.
“She should be banned from all WTA-sanctioned tournaments… This is the only proportionate response to such behavior. She is a disgrace to the Belarusian people,” Latushka said.
Russia and Belarus have been banned by various international sporting bodies due to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Despite the Kremlin’s ties with many Russian athletes, Moscow and its sports authorities are pleading for the return of its athletes to international sports.
In a decision announced on October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation’s exclusion of Russian athletes from its tournaments was illegal, paving the way for Russia’s return to the sport.
Belarusian athletes have faced similar bans due to Minsk’s role in Russia’s war.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko allowed Russia to use the country as a launching pad for the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Russian troops advancing towards kyiv from Belarus at the start of the war.
Gn sports
