The U.S. Treasury Department’s website reported that the United States imposed new sanctions related to Russia on Wednesday. The sanctions targeted several individuals and entities without providing further details.
In another context, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency “Kremlin,” criticized the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the potential sanctions on athletes for participating in the “Friendship Games” in Russia on Wednesday. Peskov said to journalists today, responding to a question about the Kremlin’s assessment of the IOC’s decision: “Our assessment is negative, as intimidating athletes undermines the credibility of the IOC.”
In response to a question about the Kremlin’s view on the new restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes by the IOC, the spokesperson said: “We definitely take a negative view of it, as it destroys the idea of the Olympics and violates the interests of athletes and Olympians, and is completely contrary to the spirit of the entire Olympic movement.”
The International Olympic Committee criticized Russia’s plans to host its own “Friendship Games” later in 2024 on Tuesday, stating: “This is a political act that violates the Olympic Charter.”
It mentioned that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not participate in the delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; this is against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The committee said that athletes who qualify will be screened by a panel composed of three of its members, chaired by Nicole Hoevertsz, Vice President of the IOC, to meet the eligibility criteria set by the Olympic Committee for Russian and Belarusian athletes, where athletes who supported the war, which Moscow describes as a “special military operation,” or are contracted with the military or security services, will not be allowed to participate in Paris 2024.
The International Olympic Committee had suspended the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee last October for recognizing the regional Olympic councils of the areas occupied by Russia in Ukraine: Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
The recent U.S.-Russia relations are marked by heightened tensions and sanctions. The United States imposed extensive sanctions on individuals and entities, including in China, Turkey, and the UAE, targeting Russia’s sanction evasion and various sectors like future energy capabilities and banking. This action is part of the U.S.’s efforts to hold Russia accountable for its activities in Ukraine and those supporting Russia’s military operations.