The board of the Latvian Handball Federation has already expressed its position regarding the aggression of Russia and Belarus against Ukraine and has adopted measures regarding the European level starts. The LHF does not support any aggression against the Ukrainian people or its territorial indivisibility. The LHF will only work with athletes, officials, institutions and countries that do not support the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the LHF clearly states that the actions of every athlete, coach, referee and sports function officer, regardless of nationality, will be assessed and, if provocative, aggressive or otherwise supported by Russian and Belarusian leaders, decisions.
As for the two Belarusian players on the Ogre team, the LHF is in close contact with both them and the club manager. The Ministry of Education and Science has expressed its position on this issue, however, giving the opportunity to assess each situation individually. After discussions with the team, the handball players and the LHF board, the LHF decided to allow both handball players to continue to represent the HK Ogre / Hydrox team in both the Latvian and Baltic handball league championships. The Latvian Handball Federation bases its decision as follows:
“Aliaksei Haisa a Aleksandrs Patsikailiks Has been living in Latvia since 2019. In addition, they live here with their families. These people have stood up for modern values, publicly condemning the regime and aggression in Russia and Belarus. Both handball players are employed here and do not have a professional athlete contract with HK Ogre / Hydrox. Which means that in this situation, any company, in any industry, could find a Russian, Belarusian people and ask to leave not only the job, but also Latvia. We have heard Krišjānis Kariņš say that this is a crime by the Russian leader against Ukraine, not an aggression by all Russian-speakers. That is why we need to be cohesive, even if we speak different languages. Both athletes also confirm that they plan to acquire Latvian citizenship and link their life and future with Latvia. In addition, both Haisa and Patsikailiks represented a selection of Latvian clubs at the end of last year in the Riga City Council Cup – wearing the Latvian national team shirt and during the Latvian national anthem, standing under the Latvian flag. Both handball players are completely opposed to the aggression and brutal actions of Russia and Belarus in Ukraine. Both athletes oppose the authoritarian regime in their home country and cite it as one of the reasons for their decision to leave Belarus. ”
The HK Ogre / Hydrox team also issued an official statement and position explaining the attitude of the two Belarusian players towards the events: In the Ogre / Hydrox team. The club’s players emigrated from Belarus for political reasons and had already spoken out against the war in Ukraine. They also publicly expressed their position against Lukashenko’s policy and signed petitions against him, so that players and their families emigrated to Latvia to prevent possible repression.
The players of the club have been living in Latvia for many years, and their families have requested to complete the formalities to become full citizens of the Republic of Latvia within the deadline set by Latvian regulations. During the talks with the LHF, the players of the club stated that they had nowhere to return, because their political views did not coincide with the current policy of Belarus. “
A Russian judge also works for the LHF Victoria Alpaidze, who, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the war there, appealed to the LHF to be admitted to the LHF judges. Victoria has been living in Latvia with her husband for ten years, has acquired basic knowledge of the Latvian language and is currently completing the necessary formalities for acquiring Latvian citizenship. Viktorija Alpaidze: “I do not support the horrors that are happening in Ukraine in any way. I consider Latvia as my home. Here is my family, friends and colleagues. At the moment I am in the process of acquiring Latvian citizenship and I connect my future only with Latvia. ”
The board of the LHF, with the support of the chairman of the LHF Council, decided to allow the players – Aliaksei Haisa and Aleksandr Patsikailik, as well as the referee Victoria Alpaidze to participate in the competitions organized by the LHF and the Baltic Handball League. We also call on every handball player, fan and Latvian citizen to be tolerant, adequate and understanding, not to turn their anger, emotions and aggression towards their peers.
Resources used:
Latvian Handball Federation
