‍ ‍ Seoul, South Korea – The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly
‍ voted to abolish all sanctions against Russia and Belarus‍ on September 27, 2023.
⁢ This decision allows athletes from both countries the potential to‍ compete at the
2025 Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina ⁢d’Ampezzo.

The IPC had partially suspended the membership ‍of⁢ both countries two years prior,
in response to RussiaS invasion of Ukraine, citing⁤ violations of constitutional
‍ obligations. The reversal restores all rights and privileges of IPC membership
to Russia and Belarus.

Impact on the 2025 Winter Paralympics

While⁤ the IPC has‍ lifted its sanctions, the participation of Russian and Belarusian
athletes in⁢ the 2025 Winter Paralympics is not guaranteed. Six sports within
‍ the Paralympic Winter Games programme fall ⁢under the jurisdiction ⁤of individual
International Federations, which currently maintain bans on athletes from these
‍⁢ countries competing under their ‍national flags.

The⁢ final decision regarding⁣ their participation rests with these International
Federations. This contrasts with the stance of‍ the International Olympic
⁣ Committee (IOC),which has stated that Russian and Belarusian athletes can⁣ only
⁤ compete at the upcoming Winter Olympics under a neutral flag,as ‍reported by
the⁤ German Press Agency (DPA).

Background: ⁢Suspension and Constitutional Obligations

The initial partial suspension⁢ of russia and Belarus in 2022 ‍followed the
launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. the IPC
⁤cited breaches of the IPC Constitution, specifically regarding the commitment
⁣ to political neutrality and the ⁤integrity of the Paralympic Games. the
IPC’s constitution mandates that member organizations uphold human rights and
refrain from actions⁤ that⁢ could bring⁣ the Paralympic Movement into disrepute.