Estonia and eight countries demand the EU freeze IOC funding over the return of Russian athletes

Nine European Union countries, led by Estonia, have sent an official request to Brussels to block financial support for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The trigger for this sharp reaction was the decision by sports officials to lift sanctions against athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The initiative originated from the Estonian Ministry of Culture, which was quickly joined by eight partners: the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden, Romania, Finland, and Denmark. In a joint statement, the countries are calling for the IOC and two other major sports bodies to be excluded from European funding programs, including the popular Erasmus+ program.

Political resonance and accusations of supporting aggression

The signatories of the appeal argue that lifting restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes undermines European values and effectively plays into the hands of Russian propaganda amidst the ongoing military conflict. The document emphasizes that the return of aggressor states to international sports "as if nothing happened" cannot be justified under current security conditions.

Estonian Minister of Culture Heidi Purga directly stated her inability to understand the logic of the sports officials. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna spoke with even greater severity, calling the IOC's steps to rehabilitate Russians "shameful and irresponsible".

Timeline of events and reaction from other organizations

Events developed following a decision by the International Olympic Committee made in early July 2026. During this period, the IOC completely removed recommendations that had previously significantly restricted the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in world tournaments. This decision effectively paved the way for their full return to the Olympic movement.

Following the IOC's move, the International Table Tennis Federation adopted a similar position. The controversial decision sparked a wave of criticism in Ukraine: it was condemned by both the National Olympic Committee and the Office of the President of the country.