アイスホッケー世界選手権、ベラルーシ共催中止　情勢不安とコロナで

【ローザンヌＡＦＰ＝時事】国際アイスホッケー連盟（IIHF）は18日、今年5～6月に開催予定の男子世界選手権について、ベラルーシによる共同開催を取りやめると発表した。「増大する政情不安とCOVID-19（新型コロナウイルス感染症）の両方に関連し高まる保安上の懸念」を理由としている。（写真はベラルーシの首都ミンスクで、国際アイスホッケー連盟のルネ・ファゼル会長＜右＞と握手するベラルーシのアレクサンドル・ルカシェンコ大統領）
　世界選手権はベラルーシの首都ミンスクとラトビアの首都リガで開催される予定だった。ＩＩＨＦはベラルーシの共催中止の決定について、「ＩＩＨＦの制御が及ばない保安上の問題のため（中略）不可避」だったと説明した。
　旧ソ連構成国のベラルーシでは昨年８月の大統領選で、アレクサンドル・ルカシェンコ大統領が６選を果たしたと主張。以降、ルカシェンコ氏の２６年に及ぶ強権統治に抗議するデモが各地で起き、警察により暴力的に鎮圧される事態となった。
　反体制派は選挙に不正があったとし、正当な勝者は当局に身柄を拘束された夫に代わって出馬したスベトラーナ・チハノフスカヤ氏だと主張している。チハノフスカヤ氏は選挙直後に隣国リトアニアへと逃れた。
　チハノフスカヤ氏はメッセージアプリ「テレグラム」で、ＩＩＨＦの今回の決定は「勝利」だと歓迎。世界選手権に向けてデモ隊がさらに「弾圧」される恐れがなくなったと述べた。
　ベラルーシの世界選手権共催を厳しく批判してきたチェコのトマーシュ・ペトシーチェク外相は、ＩＩＨＦの発表を受けツイッターに「民主主義１、ルカシェンコ０」と投稿した。
　ＩＩＨＦは今後、ラトビアの共催国としての地位を吟味するとともに、新型ウイルス対策やチームの移動をスムーズにするために会場を１か所に限定する可能性も検討するとしている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/01/19-08:33）

Belarus was on Monday stripped of its role as co-host of the 2021 ice hockey world championship over growing safety and security concerns related to both the rising political unrest and Covid-19.
Belarus had been due to co-host the event with Latvia in May and June, but ice hockey's governing body, the IIHF, said the decision to move the world champs from Minsk was unavoidable... due to safety and security issues that are beyond the IIHF's control.
The ex-Soviet state has been shaken by protests against strongman President Alexander Lukashenko's 26-year rule ever since he claimed a sixth term in a disputed election last August.
The opposition says the vote was rigged, sparking months of political unrest and a brutal police crackdown.
Protesters believe political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya -- who ran in place of her jailed husband and fled to neighbouring Lithuania shortly after the vote -- was the true winner of the polls.
Tikhanovskaya, writing on her Telegram channel, dubbed the decision to withdraw hosting rights a victory because there will be no additional wave of repression aimed at clearing out demonstrators before the World Championship.
Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek, a fierce critic of Belarus hosting the worlds, tweeted: Democracy 1, Lukashenko 0.
Lukashenko has claimed democratic processes in Belarus, which is routinely criticised by rights groups, were completely normal.
Despite that claim, the European Union has imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies.
- 'Very regrettable' -
IIHF President Rene Fasel said it was a very regrettable thing to have to remove the Minsk/Riga co-hosting bid.
During this process, we had tried to promote that the World Championship could be used as a tool for reconciliation to help calm the socio-political issues happening in the Belarus and find a positive way forward, said Fasel.
And while the (IIHF) Council feels that the World Championship should not be used for political promotion by any side, it has acknowledged that hosting this event in Minsk would not be appropriate when there are bigger issues to deal with and the safety and security of teams, spectators, and officials to prioritise.
The IIHF added that it had implemented a bylaw providing the council the ability to withdraw hosting rights if there is reason for concern that the well-being or the safe freedom of movement of the players, officials, travelling spectators and media is in doubt.
The IIHF Council has determined that it is currently impossible to ensure the welfare of teams, spectators and officials while holding a World Championship in Belarus.
The IIHF said it would now consider Latvia's status as a co-host -- the country already having said they did not want Belarus involved -- and also evaluate the possibility of moving to a single-venue format to facilitate Covid-19 safety regulations and team travel.
Czech carmaker Skoda and German motor oil manufacturer Liqui Moly had both threatened to pull out of sponsoring the event if it took place in Belarus.