Kiri

Minister of Forez?,n Affairs Republic ofEstonia Talliirn, 19 October 2022 Dear Mr Thomas Bach. Please allow me to address you on an urgent and important matter. Having followed closely the ongoing discussions on allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate in international sports, I would like to express my deep concern. Flereby, I would also like to refer to the Statement from the Baltic Sports Organisations from October 12, stating thai Russia and Belarus have no place in the sports family as long as the war against Ukraine continues. Almost eight months have passed since Russia launched its large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. We have seen Ukraine’s extraordinary courage and strong will to defend its freedom and its right to self-determination. Our moral duty and obligation is to strengthen our support and to help also Ukrainian sportsmen, so that they can participate in international sports events. A decision by the International Olympic Committee to allow Russian athletes, who are representing the aggressor currently bombing infrastructure and Ukrainian civilians, to participate in the international sports would put Ukrainians in a very difficult situation. Our collective responsibility is to do everything possible to stop this brutal war and certainly avoid any encouraging messages. There is consensus among a large part of international community thai our immediate task is to step up our efforts to isolate the aggressor in the international arena. The war continues, the killing of people continues, nothing has changed. Russia blatantly continues to violate international law and international humanitarian law by attacking civilians, committing atrocities and war crimes in Ukraine. To reach lasting peace in Europe, we need to ensure justice and accountability by bringing perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide to justice. Under these circumstances, it is not the right time to consider Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international sports. It is our common responsibility to counter Russian influence and narratives globally. Coordinated and constant public and political messaging should make clear that only Russia is responsible for the war. I take this opportunity to wish you every success in your important work. Yours sincerely, Unnas Reinsalu Mr Thomas Bach President of the International Olympic Committee LAU SANN B