MOSCOW, 28 Feb. The Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has suspended the Russian national team from participating in the 2022 World Championship, according to the organization's website. The tournament will be held in Finland from May 13 to May 29.» The IIHF is not a political organization and cannot influence decisions taken in connection with the actions in Ukraine. Nevertheless, we have an obligation to take care of all our members and participants. And therefore, we must do everything possible to ensure that our events are held in a safe environment for all teams participating in the Ice Hockey World Championship, «said IIHF head Luc Tardiff. The Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday recommended that sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete. The IOC added that athletes and teams from Russia and Belarus can only participate as neutral athletes. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 that he had decided on a special military operation of the Russian Federation to demilitarize Ukraine. In a televised address to the Russians, he said that the circumstances «require decisive and immediate action from us, the people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.» On February 21, Putin signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR.
