Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia in support of Heraskevych: When commemoration is punished, neutrality becomes complicity

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys called the decision to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer and flag bearer of the Ukrainian national team at the XXV Winter Olympic Games Milan-Cortina 2026, Vladyslav Heraskevych, for wearing a helmet with portraits of Ukrainian athletes who died during the war, shameful.

"Honoring the memory of fallen Ukrainian athletes is not a violation. The helmet depicts faces, not slogans. This is a human tribute to the Ukrainian athletes who died in the war with Russia, and it should be respected, not hushed up or banned. The IOC's decision to ban this tribute is a shameful act, unworthy of supporting the spirit of sport," Budrys wrote, expressing solidarity with Heraskevych and the people of Ukraine.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė called the IOC's decision extremely unfair. “Honoring innocent victims is not politics. It is basic humanity – a tribute to those who will never have the chance to stand on the Olympic or any other stage, because their lives were taken by Russia, which continues to take Ukrainian lives every single day. Ignoring this reality only serves the aggressor and undermines its accountability,” she said on X.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called Heraskevych's disqualification for commemorating the victims of Russian aggression unacceptable.

“This is not about equipment rules, it is about suppressing the voice of a nation under attack. Remembering those killed by Russia’s war is not a violation, it is our moral duty. When remembrance is punished, neutrality becomes complicity,” he stressed.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, in turn, wrote on X: “IOC is simply wrong by disqualifying Heraskevych.”

As reported, the IOC disqualified Heraskevych on