02:33Russia: Zakharova hails 'hero' Belarussian who waved Russian flag at Paralympics
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova thanked the Belarussian Paralympic team member who carried a Russian flag at the opening ceremony of the Rio Paralympics, Thursday, describing the flag bearer as "a hero."
The spokeswoman continued, "We are proud that there are such people. These are the people who stand outside of politics." She said it was "important to all our Paralympians and for all of us. Thank you, thank you again."
Zakharova slammed the reaction of the Guardian newspaper, following an article written by Jacob Steinberg which claimed the "goodwill" of the evening was "punctured" by the Belarussian flag gesture. Referring to the total ban on the Russian Paralympic team, she said, "Such articles and statements on the punishment which were made about the inevitability of punishment, this is real fascism."
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) banned the whole Russian Paralympic team from taking part in the Rio Games on August 8. The decision was later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on August 23. The IPC made its decision based on evidence produced by the McLaren Report claiming Russia engaged in systematic state-sponsored doping.
02:33Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova thanked the Belarussian Paralympic team member who carried a Russian flag at the opening ceremony of the Rio Paralympics, Thursday, describing the flag bearer as "a hero."
The spokeswoman continued, "We are proud that there are such people. These are the people who stand outside of politics." She said it was "important to all our Paralympians and for all of us. Thank you, thank you again."
Zakharova slammed the reaction of the Guardian newspaper, following an article written by Jacob Steinberg which claimed the "goodwill" of the evening was "punctured" by the Belarussian flag gesture. Referring to the total ban on the Russian Paralympic team, she said, "Such articles and statements on the punishment which were made about the inevitability of punishment, this is real fascism."
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) banned the whole Russian Paralympic team from taking part in the Rio Games on August 8. The decision was later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on August 23. The IPC made its decision based on evidence produced by the McLaren Report claiming Russia engaged in systematic state-sponsored doping.