EU state won't recognize Russian winners of marathon
The race organizers have introduced special conditions for Russian and Belarusian participants: they must present a Lithuanian residence permit and submit a written declaration denouncing Russia's 'military actions." In addition, they are excluded from prize eligibility and cannot appear in the official standings under their nationalities.
'All athletes from Russia and Belarus agree that by participating in the event they are competing without competition and are not eligible for prizes or awards,' according to the Rules page of the marathon's official website. Russian and Belarussian athletes must also provide 'a freely signed document in English or Lithuanian expressing opposition to Russian hostilities,' reads another point.
When asked by Russian media outlet Volna if targeting only Russian and Belarusian athletes constituted discrimination, the organizers dodged the question, saying that 'only Lithuanian citizens' are eligible for prizes because the race is part of the 'closed championship of Lithuania.'
When asked whether the nationalities of athletes from other countries will be listed in the standings, the organizers confirmed that they will.
The Vilnius Marathon is scheduled for September 14 and will feature multiple events, including a full marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km, and a 200m children's race. Entry fees range from €15 to €65. Top prizes are worth up to €1,500 ($1,700).
Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February of 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from many international sporting events, with Western-led organizers citing 'solidarity with Ukraine.' Moscow has condemned the bans, accusing Western sports bodies of politicizing athletics.
Lithuania and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Latvia, have long worked to sever cultural ties with Russia. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, these former Soviet republics have intensified this drive, which has been fueled by claims that Russia could attack the region coming from Western officials. In a recent security report, Lithuanian authorities named Russia, Belarus, and China as the country's main threats.
Moscow, which denies any intention of attacking the Baltics, has accused the nations of harboring 'extreme Russophobia' and downgraded diplomatic ties with them in 2023.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
Trump believes Russia will win
US President Donald Trump believes that Russian victory in the Ukraine conflict is inevitable, Politico reported, citing a senior White House official. On Monday, Trump threatened to impose secondary US tariffs of up to 100% on Russia's trading partners unless progress toward a peace agreement is made within 50 days. He also authorized new weapons deliveries to Ukraine, which are to be paid for by European NATO members. Moscow has warned that Trump's declaration could be seen by Kiev as a signal to continue the war. According to Politico, Trump decided to up the pressure on Moscow out of frustration with continued Russian strikes on Ukraine. The source noted that the US president believes that Moscow can secure military victory against Kiev thanks to its 'bigger economy' and 'bigger military.' 'The president's view is Russia is going to win; it's a matter of how long it takes,' the White House official told the outlet, noting Moscow's progress on the battlefield. In recent months, Russian forces have continued to gain ground, fully liberating the Lugansk People's Republic, as well as the Kursk Region, which was invaded by Ukrainian forces last year. Russia has rejected Trump's latest ultimatum, while condemning attempts to pressure it. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov asserted that this approach is 'unacceptable' and demanded that Washington and NATO respect Russia's interests and concerns. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it is open to conducting negotiations based on mutual respect with the aim of settling the Ukraine conflict diplomatically. However, Russian officials have also said they see no genuine effort on the part of Kiev or the West to pursue peace and repeatedly slammed calls by Western officials to inflict 'strategic defeat' on Russia. Russia has emphasized that it remains determined to achieve the goals of its military operation in Ukraine and, while it would prefer to do so through diplomacy, it is prepared to use military means if necessary.
Russia Today
8 hours ago
- Russia Today
French general's Putin claim debunked
France's top military officer falsely claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled the country as Moscow's main adversary in Europe, French media have reported. General Thierry Burkhard, France's chief of the defense staff, claimed on Friday that Russia considers France its 'main adversary' on the continent, citing Paris' military support for Ukraine. 'It was Putin who said this,' Burkhard declared to reporters. Jean-Dominique Merchet of L'Opinion newspaper was among the first to challenge the claim. He said on social media that he had contacted the General Staff and was told Burkhard's remarks were a 'turn of phrase' and were not based on an actual statement by the Russian leader. Instead, the military referred to a Russian public opinion poll conducted by state pollster VTsIOM in April, which found that 45% of respondents viewed France as having tense or hostile relations with Russia – up sharply from previous years. A separate survey by Russia's independent Levada Center in May showed Germany topping the list of countries perceived as hostile, with France not featuring among the top five. Only 32% of respondents named France as hostile in that poll. Broadcaster TF1 also reported on Monday that it could find no record of Putin ever making such a statement. Western officials and media have often been criticized for misquoting or oversimplifying Putin's statements, such as his 2005 remark describing the collapse of the Soviet Union as 'the greatest geopolitical catastrophe' of the 20th century – frequently interpreted as a desire to restore the USSR. Putin was describing the 'drama of the Russian people' as many Russians found themselves living on foreign soil as ethnic minorities. In a 2010 interview, Putin clarified further: 'Anyone who wants to rebuild [the USSR] has no head.' France has advocated for stronger EU defense capabilities in recent years, while Moscow has accused the bloc of exaggerating a Russian threat to justify increased military spending.
Russia Today
10 hours ago
- Russia Today
France predicts ‘major war in Europe' by 2030
France expects a 'major war' in Europe by 2030, according to the new Strategic National Review released on Monday by the General Secretariat for Defense and National Security. Despite Moscow's denials that it plans to attack Europe, the document names Russia as the main threat, alongside Iran, China, terrorism, separatism, and cyber and organized crime. 'We are entering a new era... in which there is a particularly high risk of a major high-intensity war in Europe… by 2030,' the review warns, adding that France and its European allies would be targeted. The report references the 'Russian threat', 'Russian aggression', and related terms over 50 times, including in the foreword by President Emmanuel Macron. 'Russia in particular poses the most direct threat… to the interests of France, those of its partners and allies, and the very stability of the European continent and the Euro-Atlantic area,' the document claims, accusing Moscow of cyber attacks, election meddling, and assassinations. It even paints Moscow's efforts to expand ties with Africa, Latin America, and Asia as confirming its 'confrontational approach.' The review warns that Russia could act against Moldova, the Balkans, or Eastern European NATO members. It also names Iran and China as strategic threats: Iran is accused of destabilizing the Middle East, while China is portrayed as seeking global dominance. France must reinforce its military and shift its economy to 'war preparedness,' the review concludes, calling for new investments both in the country and across the EU to deter aggression. The publication of the review comes amid wider EU militarization. Brussels recently adopted the €800 billion ReArm Europe initiative, and last month, European NATO members agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, both citing the alleged 'Russian threat'. Russia has dismissed claims that it plans to attack the West. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the West uses Russia as a 'monster' to justify its growing military budgets. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Western leaders last week of forgetting history and pushing Europe toward a direct clash with Russia. He added that Russia will factor EU militarization into its own strategic planning.
