The European Gymnastics organization has announced the removal of restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus, effective May 24. This decision follows a similar move by the World Gymnastics executive committee, which allowed Russian gymnasts to compete under their national flag and anthem.
The upcoming European Championships in rhythmic gymnastics, set to take place in Bulgaria starting May 27, will see the participation of Russian athletes, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape.
In a broader context, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had previously recommended that Belarusian athletes, including teams, no longer face restrictions in events governed by international federations and organizers of global sports competitions. These limitations were initially imposed on February 28, 2022, and again on March 28, 2023, in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was supported by the Belarusian regime.
The IOC’s executive board officially lifted these restrictions on May 7, 2026. In response, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine expressed strong opposition to the IOC’s decision, emphasizing that Belarus continues to back Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The European Gymnastics organization has lifted restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes, allowing their participation in upcoming competitions. This decision follows similar actions by the IOC and has drawn criticism from Ukraine's National Olympic Committee.
Source: Radio Svoboda