USA: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has refuted allegations made by Vladimir Zelensky's aide that the organisation was accepting bribes from Russia and "propagating war." Mikhail Podoliak reacted angrily to the IOC's suggestion to reinstate Russian athletes in competition.

According to a statement cited by Reuters on Monday, "The IOC rejects in the strongest possible terms this and other defamatory statements." They cannot be used as a starting point for any useful discussion.

The IOC revealed last week that it was looking into "a pathway" for athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete in international competitions under a neutral flag with some limitations. It urged event planners to refrain from inviting athletes from the two nations in February, ostensibly to preserve the integrity of athletics and to support Kiev.

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The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine retaliated by threatening to skip the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. Zelensky among other senior Ukrainian officials harshly criticised the proposal.

Podoliak referred to the IOC as a "promoter of war, murder, & destruction" who "enjoys" seeing his nation suffer. Additionally, he stated that the organisation "platforms [Russia] to promote genocide" by using "Russian money."

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Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba stated last week that the IOC wants to "trample on the graves of thousands of innocent" Ukrainians and "sweep Russian war crimes under the rug." Zelensky claimed he had written Emmanuel Macron, his French counterpart, to exert pressure on him.

In a video address on Sunday, he stated, "We must be certain that Russia will not be able to use this or any other international sporting events to propagandise aggression or its state chauvinism.

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Before official measures are adopted, the Kremlin declined to comment on the IOC's proposal. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that politics have an impact on international sports, and that even the language of the IOC's initiative reflects this.