MOSCOW, June 12, Andrey Senchenko. Special Representative of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RHF) ) on International Affairs, board member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Pavel Bure expressed the hope that international organizations would treat Russia and Russian hockey with respect. «A very difficult situation. Now we are not treated very well everywhere. But we are working on to be treated as we should be. With respect at least. Russia is the largest country in the world and is important for everyone. We do not need to be loved. We need to be respected,» Bure told reporters. In February, the IIHF council suspended the Russian national teams and Belarus from international competitions for an indefinite period. The teams missed the 2022 World Championship, which was held in Finland. The IIHF deprived Russia of the right to host the 2023 Youth World Championship in Omsk and Novosibirsk, as well as the 2023 Senior World Championship, which was supposed to be hosted by St. Petersburg. In addition, on May 27, the International Ice Hockey Federation refused the national teams of Russia and Belarus to participate in the 2023 World Championship.
