At its meeting on 27 November 2025, the Committee on Youth and Sports considered a draft resolution on the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the heads of state, parliaments and governments of democratic countries of the world, the International Paralympic Committee regarding the ban on the participation of athletes from the russian federation and the republic of belarus in international sports competitions (reg. No. 14204), submitted by People's Deputy of Ukraine Kozhemiakin A.A. and others.
The purpose of the Resolution is to adopt the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the heads of state, parliaments and governments of democratic countries of the world, the International Paralympic Committee regarding the ban on the participation of athletes from the russian federation and the republic of belarus in international sports competitions.
On 27 September 2025, the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee adopted a decision that effectively reinstated russian and belarusian athletes to the international Paralympic movement. Openly – with the flags, anthems and state symbols of the aggressors. This was a step backwards not only for the international sports community, but also for the entire system of global security, human rights and the rule of law.
This decision contradicts the principles that should underpin the Paralympic movement: humanity, justice and the inadmissibility of war as a tool for resolving inter-state issues. It ignores the fact that the russian federation continues to wage a bloody and aggressive war, destroying the lives of millions of Ukrainians, including people with disabilities, among whom are our military and civilians wounded as a result of russian attacks.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has consistently expressed its position on this issue, adopting appeals condemning the decisions of international sports institutions that opened the way for representatives of aggressor states to participate even in a ‘neutral’ status. Today, Ukrainian sport is facing a new, much more dangerous trend of completely lifting restrictions.
The Draft Resolution provides for the adoption of an appeal by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the heads of state, parliaments and governments of democratic countries around the world and the International Paralympic Committee to ban athletes from the russian federation and the republic of belarus from participating in international sports competitions and calls for:
-review the decision of the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee of 27 September 2025;
-to reinstate a complete ban on the participation of russian and belarusian athletes in all international sports competitions, including the Paralympic Games;
-to protect the principles of humanism, justice, human rights and the inadmissibility of war as a means of inter-state relations, on which the international Paralympic movement is based;
-adopt a decision to restrict the entry of athletes and sports delegations from aggressor states into the territory of democratic countries until the russian federation's aggression has completely ceased and Ukraine's territorial integrity has been restored.
During the discussion of the draft resolution, members of the Ukrainian Parliament who are members of the Committee noted that its adoption would contribute to the exclusion of russian and belarusian Paralympic athletes from international sports competitions under the auspices of the International Paralympic Committee, and would also be an important step in countering decisions that legitimise aggression and demonstrate our unwavering state position: no compromises with a terrorist state and its satellite.
Following the review, the Committee decided to recommend to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the heads of state, parliaments and governments of democratic countries of the world, the International Paralympic Committee regarding the ban on the participation of athletes from the russian federation and the republic of belarus in international sports competitions (reg. No. 14204), based on the results of the first reading, to adopt it as a basis and as a whole.