Belarusian authorities promise to stop repressions for sake of World Cup
IIHF Vice-President Kalervo Kummola has stated this.
According to him, the World Cup was awarded not to a politician Lukashenka, but to the successful ice hockey team of Belarus, reports "Tovarisch online". Kalervo Kummola has also told that the Belarusian government promised to stop persecution of the opposition in order to get the right to host the World Cup. However, the sports official admits that he situation hasn't changed for the better.
Finnish Minister of Sports Paavo Arhinmäki, who belongs to the Left Forces Union, wants to appeal to the IIHF, in his turn. Last week he demanded to prohibit Minsk to host the Ice Hockey World Cup-2014. The Minister is going to demand that the IIHF should start some action in this direction.
Let us remind you, the suggestion to move the World Cup-2014 away from Minsk was first made after the brutal dispersal of the peaceful demonstration on December 19, 2010. Now many politicians and civil activists all over the world support this idea.
