Under the neutral flag
Police have detained 19,000 people since the beginning of the massive protests. She often injured hundreds of protesters during brutal interventions, several of which died as a result of police brutality. Even after three months, the tension does not subside and the European champion does not want to reconcile with the harsh reality in the country he has been representing all his life.
“I openly say that I do not agree with unjustified violence, I do not agree with the violation of the law, I do not want to believe lies and I am not afraid of intimidation,” Kravchenko said. He does not intend to give up and wants to train abroad for the Olympic Games. If he manages to qualify for the sports holiday, postponed due to the pandemic for the summer of 2021, he plans to race under a neutral flag and thus distance himself from the Lukashenko regime.
–
Kravchenko is not the only athlete who has resisted the situation in his homeland. Basketball player Jelena Levčenková, who played four seasons in the overseas women’s NBA, also took part in the protests. Authorities detained her in October for taking part in demonstrations, spending 15 days behind bars. It was symbolically supported by crowds of protesters.
Minsk’s action against athletes has already been alerted by the International Olympic Committee, which has initiated proceedings against Belarus on suspicion of violating the Olympic Charter. The Committee is also considering sanctions. Already in October, Belarusian athletes demanded that their National Olympic Committee be suspended. This would mean that the Belarusian anthem and the national flag would not be flown at the Games in Japan.
– .
