The Belarussian swimmer who attended an event with sanctioned politician Shuleyko was allowed to attend Qatar World Aquatics Championship

Kyiv, Ukraine (Svidomi) — The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine has appealed to the IOC and the International Aquatics Federation regarding the admission of Belarusian swimmer Anastasiya Shkurdai to the 2024 Olympic Games in Qatar, the press service of the NOC of Ukraine reports.

"Ukraine's position remains unchanged that against the backdrop of the ongoing unprecedented brutal military aggression of the Russian Federation, supported by the Republic of Belarus, against Ukraine, representatives of the aggressor countries should not be present in international sports arenas in any status," the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine said in a statement.

On February 23, Anastasiya Shkurdai took part in the event together with the Head of the Brest Regional Executive Committee, Yuri Shuleykо. Due to his support for Russia's war against Ukraine, Shuleyko was sanctioned by Canada, Switzerland, Ukraine, the UK and the EU.

Among other things, Yuri Shuleyko is responsible for mobilisation in Belarus, as well as for interaction with military organisations. He has been involved in the Russian-Belarusian military exercises that have been taking place near Brest as part of Russia's escalating military aggression against Ukraine since 24 February 2022.

It will be recalled that in December 2023, the IOC allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in a neutral status. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned this decision, as "Belarusian and, especially, Russian athletes honourably represent organisations associated with the armed forces of the Russian Federation".