Important appeal of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine and the National Paralympic Team of Ukraine‼️

02.03.2026

Prime Minister of the Italian Republic

Giorgia Meloni

Your Excellency,

On behalf of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine and the National Paralympic Team of Ukraine we express to you our respect and great gratitude, as the Head of Government of a country which from the very beginning of the murderous military aggression by russia was in solidarity with Ukraine and our people and provided every possible support to Ukraine in the struggle for freedom, democracy, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

I personally and the members of our Paralympic team have repeatedly heard your vivid, charismatic speeches in the Italian Parliament and at European forums in support of Ukraine — condemning military aggression and the occupation of Ukrainian territories.

Expressing our enormous respect and admiration for you as one of the leading politicians of Europe and the world, we address you as the Prime Minister of the country whose Government formed the Organising Committee for holding the XIV Paralympic Winter Games.

06.03.2026 in Italy, in Milano-Cortina, the official Opening Ceremony of the XIV Paralympic Winter Games will take place.

Please take into account that neither Russia nor Belarus, following the results of the four‑year cycle of the sports qualification process, in connection with restrictions of their membership in the International Paralympic Committee, HAVE OBTAINED A SINGLE LICENSE FOR THEIR ATHLETES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARALYMPICS IN ITALY!

Therefore, the international Paralympic community and the participating countries of the Paralympics‑2026 believed that the flags of the murderer country and its satellite would not be political attributes of these countries at the Paralympics in Italy.

It should be noted that last year the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee, due to pressure personally by putin on delegates of Africa, Asia and Latin America (through their governments), adopted a decision on the restoration of full membership of russia and belarus in the International Paralympic Committee (hereinafter – IPC). But at the same time until 16.02.2026 russia and belarus had no right of participation for their athletes at the Winter Paralympics in Italy.

The entire sporting world was shocked by the decision of the IPC to grant outside any regulation 6 licenses to sports entities of russia and 4 licenses to representatives of belarus for participation in the Paralympics‑2026.

The European Commissioner for Sport of the European Commission made a statement on the boycott by officials of the European Union of the official events of the Paralympics in Italy and called upon the governments of other countries to join this boycott.

As of today, the Paralympic Committees of Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Canada and the Netherlands have declared a boycott of the Opening Ceremony. The Government of Croatia declared a boycott of the official events of the Paralympics.

The National Paralympic Team of Ukraine and the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine with gratitude and respect received the information that the Government of Italy, which you head, expressed resolute objection to the IPC decision on the admission of russian and belarusian sports entities to the Paralympic Games 2026 with permission to use their national symbolism, including anthems.

Your Government confirmed the previously expressed disagreement together with 33 other states and the European Commission regarding the decision on full restoration of membership of the Paralympic Committees of russia and belarus in the IPC.

Today practically all European countries and the entire democratic world draw attention to the destruction of the ideals and philosophy of the Paralympic movement in connection with the latest IPC decision and, accordingly, the fact of the appearance of a sports team of a country that will be able to politically identify itself with an anthem and a flag covered with the blood of hundreds of thousands of murdered peaceful citizens of Ukraine!

However, allow in our appeal, dear Madam Prime Minister, to note not only the immorality of what may occur at the XIV Paralympic Winter Games in Italy…

We in our appeal ask you and your government TO PAY SEPARATE AND GREAT ATTENTION TO SPECIFIC FACTORS OF VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, NATIONAL LAW OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND ITS OBLIGATIONS AS A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, VIOLATIONS OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE AND THE UN CHARTER, AS WELL AS TO THE INTERNATIONAL‑LEGAL AND POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE USE OF STATE AND POLITICAL ATTRIBUTES OF RUSSIA DURING OFFICIAL EVENTS OF THE XIV PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES ON THE TERRITORY OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC.

I. Violation of the Constitution of the International Paralympic Committee

According to Article 10.1.1 of the IPC Constitution the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, like every other IPC member country, is the sole representative of the IPC and the Paralympic movement in its country and throughout its entire territory.

According to Article 13.1.7 of the IPC Constitution, in order to become a member of the IPC a National Paralympic Committee (hereinafter – NPC) must meet the following requirement: it must have the exclusive right to represent the Paralympic movement in its country throughout its entire territory and must not have any claim from another organisation to such right.

A new IPC member must guarantee the absence of conflict between its activities and powers and the activities of any other NPC member.

Thus, Article 13.1.7 of the IPC Constitution establishes the principle of exclusive representation of the National Paralympic Committee in its territory.

And Article 13.1.9.8 of the IPC Constitution obliges an IPC member to guarantee the absence of conflict with the activities of other IPC members.

Russia, in accordance with its Constitution and its regulatory legal decisions, extended its sports jurisdiction to the occupied territories which belong to Ukraine and which have the exclusive right to be represented in the international Paralympic movement by the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine.

Russia created and implements the functioning of state sports structures and structures of the Paralympic Committee of the russian federation in the occupied territories of Ukraine, grossly violating the principle of exclusive territorial representation of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine within its country.

The Paralympic Committee of the russian federation officially included in its structure regional branches in the 'Republic of Crimea' and the city of Sevastopol, which is confirmed by information on the official website of the Paralympic Committee of Russia in the section 'Regional Branches'.

The russian Paralympic Committee conducts official events and sports competitions in the occupied territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, which is evidenced by information about the activities of the Paralympic Committee of Russia on its internet resources.

In addition, the russian Paralympic Committee together with russian state sports institutions through latent coercion involves Ukrainian Paralympic athletes from the occupied territories in participation in the national Paralympic team of russia.

All the above is direct evidence of the institutional presence of the Paralympic Committee of Russia and Russian state sports organisations in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and creates a direct conflict with the jurisdiction of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine over the entire territory of Ukraine recognised in the world and in the International Paralympic Committee.

The actions of state sports institutions of russia and the NPC of the russian federation fully contradict Articles 10.1.1, 13.1.7 and 13.1.9.8 of the IPC Constitution!

Conclusion:

According to Article 12.3.1 of the IPC Constitution a National Paralympic Committee has the right to enter its athletes only under condition of compliance with the Constitution and regulations of the IPC.

IN CASE OF SYSTEMATIC VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF TERRITORIAL EXCLUSIVITY THE RIGHT OF THE NPC TO ENTER ATHLETES IS LEGALLY UNLAWFUL!

II. International legal context

Institutional integration of the occupied territory of Ukraine into the sports system of the russian federation and into the structure of the Paralympic Committee of russia is an element of the current state policy of russia and the same policy within the system of the Paralympic Committee of russia, which today is not recognised by international law and is defined as a forcible annexation of the territories of Ukraine.

According to paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the UN Charter all Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Thus, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, any actions related to the forcible seizure of the territories of another state are incompatible with the Purposes of the United Nations.

Conclusion:

THE ADMISSION OF ATHLETES WITH POLITICAL SYMBOLISM AND ATTRIBUTES OF THE AGGRESSOR STATE ENTERED BY THE PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION WHICH OFFICIALLY EXTENDED ITS STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITY TO THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE ENSURES DIRECT LEGITIMISATION OF RUSSIA’S OCCUPATION ACTIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.

III. Legal factors of the legislation of the Italian Republic and the provisions of the contract of the Government of Italy with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee regarding the activities of the Organising Committee of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 The Italian Republic, as a Member State of the European Union, is obliged to ensure the implementation of the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine, including – the annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

In the preamble to Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014 it is expressly stated that the European Union condemns the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the russian federation and does not recognise it.

In accordance with Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union, the Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

Thus, the EU Member States are obliged to ensure the consistency of the practice of their State’s activities with the policy of non-recognition of the occupation of the territory of Ukraine.

Accordingly, THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, HOLDING ON ITS TERRITORY THE XIV WINTER PARALYMPIC GAMES, MUST COMPLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS IT HAS UNDERTAKEN UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION, INCLUDING — REGARDING THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF HOLDING ANY EVENTS THAT LEAD TO THE RECOGNITION OF THE OCCUPATION BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF THE TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE.

In addition, clause 15.2 (b) of the Host City Contract for the 2026 Games provides that the Organising Committee of the Games is obliged to take all necessary measures, where necessary – in cooperation with the state authorities of Italy, to ensure that the activities of the Organising Committee related to the organisation of the Games comply with international agreements and laws in force in the host country.

In accordance with Italian legislation – Article 5 of Legislative Decree 231/2001, a legal entity shall be liable for offences committed in its interest or for its benefit by persons who perform functions of representation, management or direction.

For this very reason, the State of Italy, as well as the organisers (the Organising Committee of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games 2026), are obliged to carry out a proper legal assessment of the risks of violations and to ensure that their activities comply with national, European and international law.

The admission to participation of athletes entered by the Paralympic Committee of the russian federation, with political state attributes of russia, in violation of the provisions of national, European and international law in the context of the territories of Ukraine occupied and annexed by the russian federation indicates:

A high risk of legal consequences for the organiser of the event – the XIV Winter Paralympic Games 2026;

Violation of the principle of preventive supervision of Italian legislation and the organisational model “Modello 231”.

Conclusion:

THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAVE ALL THE LEGAL GROUNDS UNDER NATIONAL, EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL LAW TO PROPERLY ASSESS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND ACCORDINGLY — NOT TO ALLOW THE STATE AND POLITICAL IDENTIFICATION OF RUSSIA, WHICH, CONTRARY TO THE AFOREMENTIONED LEGAL NORMS, REPRESENTS THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE AT THE WORLD SPORTING EVENT — THE XIV WINTER PARALYMPICS 2026 AND, THUS, TO ENSURE PUBLIC ORDER, COMPLIANCE WITH ITALY’S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND CONFORMITY WITH NATIONAL, EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL LAW.

IV. General conclusion

RUSSIA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS IMPERIAL POLICY, USING AT THE WORLD SPORTING FORUM THE POLITICAL IDENTIFIERS OF ITS STATE — THE FLAG AND THE ANTHEM, IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THE XIV WINTER PARALYMPIC GAMES AN INSTRUMENT OF LEGAL RECOGNITION OF THE CRIMINAL OCCUPATION OF UKRAINIAN TERRITORIES.

ACCORDINGLY, THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, TOGETHER WITH THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ITALY WITHIN ITS COMPOSITION, ARE BEING PROVOKED INTO VIOLATING NATIONAL, EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL LAW!

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE ABOVE, THE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF ITALY HAVE ALL THE LEGAL GROUNDS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF THE POLITICAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE AGGRESSOR STATE, THE TERRORIST STATE, THE OCCUPYING STATE RUSSIA AND ITS SATELLITE AND ACCOMPLICE OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL POLICY — BELARUS — ON THE TERRITORY OF THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE HOLDING OF THE XIV WINTER PARALYMPIC GAMES AND DURING THEIR EVENTS.

We separately request to draw the attention of the ministries and departments of Italy to the obvious existence of a conflict of sports territorial jurisdiction, which in fact leads to the recognition of the military occupation of the territory of Ukraine during the highest Paralympic sporting forum.

Dear Madam Prime Minister, the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine and our National Paralympic Team appeal with a request to take into account the above political and legal analysis, the specified legal arguments in connection with the use of the political attributes of Russia and Belarus on the territory of the Italian Republic during the holding of the XIV Paralympic Games.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT AN OBJECTIVE LEGAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ABOVE GIVES THE GOVERNMENT OF ITALY THE RIGHT TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF THE FLAG AND ANTHEM OF RUSSIA AND BELARUS ON THE TERRITORY OF ITALY DURING THE WINTER PARALYMPICS 2026 IN ORDER TO AVOID THE LEGITIMISATION OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE DURING THE HIGHEST PARALYMPIC FORUM.

We appeal to You with the belief that Your justice, adherence to European and international law and the corresponding urgent decision of the Government of the Italian Republic will make it possible to prevent the creation of a dangerous precedent of using international sport as an instrument for legitimising illegal territorial changes through military aggression and occupation and will contribute to the protection of the international legal order.

With great respect and hope

President of the National

Paralympic Committee of Ukraine    Valerii SUSHKEVYCH