PACE continues to back unscrupulous and illegitimate resolutions calling for a "total ban" on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympic Games, said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on social media. She added that these resolutions are clearly in violation of:
- The Olympic Charter (IOC Statutes)
- The UNESCO Berlin Declaration of 2013
- Various resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly
- and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Zakharova added that at the same time, the absolute majority of the world continues to support the Olympic principles.
For example, at the initiative of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, the Non-Aligned Movement (consisting of 120 states and 20 observers) adopted a special declaration at the ministerial meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku. The declaration called for the participation of all national teams in the Paris Olympic Games.
IOC President Thomas Bach made an official statement: "The IOC warmly welcomes the support by the 120 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. We are greatly encouraged by this strong commitment to the unifying mission of the Olympic Games. Thank you to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for taking the initiative for this important resolution." If the West stands for democracy, then it should respect the will of the majority on the basis of international law, concluded Zakharova.