Lukashenko denied accreditation to Olympics: Britain
July 26th, 2012 - 2:55 am ICT by IANSLondon, July 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Accreditation to the London 2012 Olympic Games has not been granted to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the British Embassy in Belarus has confirmed.
“President Alexander Lukashenko is on a list of people whose entry to the European Union is banned,” an embassy spokesperson said Wednesday. “This ban will be in force during the Olympics. There will be no change in this decision.”
Lukashenko is on a list of Belarusian officials banned from Europe “because of breach of international standards during the presidential elections in December 2010,” he said.
Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organisers of the 2012 London Games Wednesday denied having banned Belarus president from attending the Olympics.
The Olympics start in London Friday, July 27, and will last until Aug 12.
The EU announced a visa ban and asset freeze on Lukashenko and almost 160 of his officials in January 2011, following disputed presidential elections.
Lukashenko stayed in power after the disputed December 2010 elections. The Belarusian government crushed subsequent protests against the results and arrested many opposition figures.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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