“Rene Fasel's visit to Minsk showed an inconsistency that could damage the reputation of the IIHF itself.
A sports festival cannot be held in a country where people are imprisoned in inhumane conditions as political prisoners just a few miles away from ice arenas. The Swiss Fasel could defend the Swiss citizen Natallia Hersche, who was sentenced by an "honest court" to 2,5 years in prison for pulling off a balaclava from a riot policeman. Instead, he hesitates to make statements and questions respect for the Belarusian people.
I know that many hockey players, national teams and federations of countries are not going to go to the championship, which is a cover for legal default, tortures, and murders. For them, as for us, freedom, human dignity, and the law are more important than any posts and awards. The championship must be moved from Minsk. Otherwise, I call on all national federations to boycott him”.
