Kyiv: Ukrainian Youth and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi announced on Tuesday that he has formally appealed to the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to reconsider its decision to lift restrictions on motorsport participants from Russia and Belarus. Bidnyi emphasized the ongoing relevance of the sanctions initially imposed following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.

According to Anadolu Agency, Bidnyi expressed in a LinkedIn post his demand for the reversal of the FIA's decision, highlighting the unresolved nature of the conflict's underlying issues. He revealed that the war has resulted in the deaths of over 770 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, alongside the destruction of more than 925 sports facilities throughout Ukraine.

Bidnyi condemned the lifting of the restrictions, labeling it a 'blatant disregard for international law and the principles of Fair Play.' He further referenced the European Union's stance on not 'normalizing' Russia's participation in international sports until a just peace is achieved, underscoring the call for continued sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes in global motorsport events.