Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) does not fully support the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych for commemorating fallen athletes, the prime minister announced on Twitter.
She emphasized that such a step does not correspond to either the Olympic spirit or the fundamental principles of respect and solidarity.
“Paying tribute is not political propaganda, but humanity,” Siliņa stated.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs also expressed criticism of the IOC’s decision on Twitter, stating that it is simply wrong.
IOC is simply wrong by disqualifying @heraskevych
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) February 12, 2026
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (New Unity) said that Russia kills innocent Ukrainians every day, stressing that Russia is not neutral.
She pointed out that Heraskevych was merely honoring fallen teammates. “It is human, not political,” Braže said.
As previously reported, the IOC on Thursday, shortly before the competition, disqualified Heraskevych after he refused to change his helmet, which displayed images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war launched by Russia.