The decision to strip the aggressor countries of all rights in the International Paralympic Committee was made at an extraordinary General Assembly of the organization in Berlin. 64 delegates voted for the suspension with 39 against.

russia and belarus have no right to appeal this decision. Only the IPC’s General Assembly can restore countries’ membership in the committee. Its next meeting is scheduled for the end of 2023.

Sanctions against russia and belarus were imposed by the IPC following russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – the national teams of both countries were barred from participating in the 2022 Winter Paralympics.