Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said on Thursday that she is cancelling a planned trip to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) permitted several Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and anthems.
“I had planned to travel to support our Paralympic athlete, but it seems this trip will not take place. Our athlete representing Lithuania will be honoured here at home,” Ruginienė told Žinių radijas. “I see no possibility of going there because of the risk of various provocations and unfair actions,” she added.
The prime minister said the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their flags “does not reflect today’s reality.” “Today we need unity, a firm stance and resistance to such provocations. Europe must remain united and believe in Ukraine’s victory,” she said.
Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes have been cleared to march under their national flags. Both countries were suspended after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with a partial neutral-athlete framework introduced in 2023.
The Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026 will take place from 6 to 15 March. One Lithuanian athlete, snowboarder Rapolas Micevičius, will compete at the Games—becoming the first Lithuanian to take part in the Winter Paralympics in 32 years.
