Latvian athletes in Russia. VDD looks into participation in sports games opened by Putin

Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has started looking into Latvian athletes’ participation in virtual and physical sports games in Russia that were opened by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as confirmed by VDD.
VDD believes that in the current geopolitical situation, participation in sports events in Russia is against Latvia’s national security interests and the fundamental values of a democratic society that include respect for human life and the territorial integrity of another independent state.
VDD points out that Kremlin’s controlled information resources use the participation of western athletes in sports events for war propaganda. Participation of such athletes in Russian information resources is presented as support of Russia’s aggressive foreign policy, including the war in Ukraine.
“We can confirm that VDD has started looking into Latvian athletes’ participation in sports events in Russia. Currently the service refrains from providing more comments about any specific case,” notes the service.
As previously reported, multiple Latvian ice hockey players are participating in ongoing virtual and physical sports events in Russia, according to information published by organisers.
Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LHF) has halted the licences of ice hockey players who left for Russia this month to participate in sports events there. Latvian Floorball League has halted Aleksej Popovs’ licence for participating in those sports events.
In the so-called Future Games in Kazan, the participating Baltic Select team includes Ervīns Muštukovs, Kirils Tambijevs, Pāvels Goroškovs, Martins Lavrovs, Aleksejs Popovs, Alisers Mubarakšins and Ņikita Zantmans.
“Based on the information about his participation in the Future Games festival in Russia, Aleksejs Popovs’ player licence to participate in floorball competitions organised by LFS has been halted,” LFS reports.
In the Future Games opened by Russian President Vladimir Putin, participants compete in the virtual environment and real sports fields.
Of these Latvian hockey players, only Mubarakšins, who has been a member of Russia’s Supreme Hockey League (VHL) Kazan “Bars” for the last three years, is playing in Russia this season.
Also read: Latvian expert: taking Armyansk is strategically important in Ukraine’s war against Russia
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