MOSCOW, Mar 12 Alternative for Germany MEP Kristin Anderson called the decision of international sports federations to prevent Russian athletes from participating in competitions racist. On February 28, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that international sports organizations remove Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions because of the situation in Ukraine. This recommendation was followed by most of the international sports federations. Some organizations also banned athletes from using national symbols, including the state flag and anthem and the words «Russia» and «Russian».
"I believe that human rights should not be infringed because of their gender, place of origin , race, language, and religious or political views. This requirement is specified in a number of laws. Now those rules are broken. Those sanctions that were imposed on Russian athletes and representatives of the cultural sector from Russia in connection with the situation in Ukraine are pure racism,” Anderson said during her speech in the Parliament of the European Union.
Also the German MP called the action of many political leaders who, in her opinion, «incline the modern community towards the tribes,» is a shame. «Apparently, this does not bother any of the politicians,» Anderson added.