Russia's Football Sanctions: Why Belarus Plays In Russia

why are belarus playing in russia

The Belarus national football team has been permitted to take part in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches, despite calls for their exclusion due to the country's supportive role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since September 2021, the team has played its home matches at the Central Stadium in Kazan, Russia, due to travel sanctions imposed after an incident with Ryanair Flight 4978. Belarus has a close relationship with Russia, sharing a land border and constituting the supranational Union State, with Russia being Belarus' largest and most important economic and political partner.

Characteristics Values
Reason for ban Involvement in the ongoing war in Ukraine
First ban 2024
Home ground Dinamo Stadium in Minsk
Current home venue Central Stadium in Kazan, Russia
Current governing body Football Federation of Belarus

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Belarus-Russia relations

Belarus and Russia have shared a close political and economic relationship since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Both countries are members of several international organisations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the United Nations. Russia is Belarus's largest and most important economic and political partner, and the two nations share a land border.

In the early 1990s, Russia was concerned that involvement in the affairs of Belarus, a near-abroad state, would risk the relations it was trying to build with the West. However, as NATO began to expand eastward, Russia found itself in a difficult position. On the one hand, it faced the breakup of the large geopolitical bloc it had once controlled. On the other, it felt that the West was attempting to isolate it from the European environment by picking up the pieces of its former empire. This led to the increasing importance of good relations with Belarus.

In July 1994, Alexander Lukashenko came to power in Belarus, and the country seemed an ideal candidate for integration with Russia. In February 1995, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation with Belarus, stating that the two nations shared a common historical experience over many centuries, which created the basis for signing the treaty. The integration process was launched on 2 April 1996, and exactly a year later, the Union of Belarus and Russia was founded. This process culminated in the establishment of a Union State between the two nations on 8 December 1999.

Despite this close relationship, tensions have arisen at times. In 2009, for example, a diplomatic row erupted when Lukashenko accused Russia of offering a $500 million loan on the condition that Belarus recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Lukashenko also questioned the necessity of diplomatic relations with Russia, stating that Russia was "blockading" Belarus. In July 2009, Russia banned all dairy imports from Belarus, claiming they did not comply with new regulations. Belarus accused Russia of employing the ban for political purposes, while Russia denied that the ban was politically motivated.

In recent years, Lukashenko has pressed for a revival of Belarusian identity, delivering a speech in Belarusian rather than Russian, in which he stated, "We are not Russian—we are Belarusians." Trade disputes, a border dispute, and a more relaxed official attitude towards dissident voices have all contributed to a weakening of the once warm relationship with Russia. In January 2020, new tensions arose when Lukashenko publicly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to incorporate Belarus into Russia, leading to Russia cutting economic subsidies for Belarus. In July 2020, the relationship between the two countries was described as "strained" after 33 Russian military contractors were arrested in Minsk.

Despite these tensions, the two countries have continued to cooperate in various areas, particularly in the military sphere. In February 2022, Russian forces were permitted to stage part of the invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory, and Belarus has allowed Russia to bring its nuclear weapons onto Belarusian soil.

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Belarus's role in the Ukraine invasion

Belarus has played a crucial role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The country, which borders Ukraine to the north, shares a nearly 700-mile-long border with Ukraine and is only about 674 miles from Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. This proximity has been of major strategic value to Russia.

In the lead-up to the invasion, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to conduct military drills on its territory. However, these troops did not leave Belarus as scheduled and instead used the country as a staging ground for the invasion, providing Russia with the shortest possible land route to Kyiv. Belarus also allowed Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its territory, targeting Ukraine.

While there is no evidence that Belarusian troops have directly joined the conflict, there have been reports of their presence in Ukraine, fighting alongside Russian soldiers. Additionally, Belarus has served as a treatment hub for wounded Russian soldiers and a storage site for the bodies of those killed in action.

The involvement of Belarus in the invasion has been met with widespread condemnation from Western countries, resulting in sanctions from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan. Belarus's participation in the conflict is believed to be unpopular among its citizens, with protests taking place and hackers targeting critical infrastructure to disrupt the Russian war effort.

Belarus's role in the invasion can be attributed to the country's close political and economic ties with Russia, as well as its dependence on Russian support. Belarus's authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has maintained a neutral stance in the past, shifting between Russia and the West to suit his needs. However, following a disputed presidential election in 2020, mass protests broke out in Belarus, and Lukashenko turned to Russian President Vladimir Putin for assistance. This marked a turning point, with Lukashenko becoming increasingly reliant on Russia and aligning himself with Putin's interests.

As a result of Belarus's involvement, Ukraine has severed economic ties with the country, leading to a significant decline in bilateral trade. Ukraine has also recalled its ambassador from Minsk and reduced its embassy staff.

In summary, Belarus's proximity to Ukraine, coupled with its political and economic ties to Russia, has made it a critical player in the invasion. The country has provided Russia with a strategic foothold and continues to supply military hardware and components, despite facing international condemnation and domestic opposition.

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Belarus's athletes competing as AIN

Belarusian athletes are competing as AIN (Athlètes Individuels Neutres, or Individual Neutral Athletes) at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. This is because Belarus, along with Russia, has been banned from competing as a country in the Olympics due to its involvement in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

AIN athletes from Belarus are not allowed to display any national symbols, such as the flag, nor can they have their national anthem played. They are also not allowed to participate in the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremonies. Belarusian athletes must be invited by the IOC to compete as individuals and adhere to strict guidelines, including doping standards.

The decision to ban Belarus and Russia from the Olympics was made by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), which called the countries' involvement in the war in Ukraine a "blatant violation" of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter. The IOC has said that it reserves the right to decide whether athletes with Belarusian passports can participate in the Olympics.

The ban on Belarusian athletes competing under their national identity comes as part of a broader package of sanctions against Belarus for its role in the war. These sanctions have been implemented by various international bodies and include economic measures, such as cutting economic subsidies, as well as banning Belarusian teams from hosting international football matches and competitions.

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Belarus's football team playing in Russia

Belarus's national football team has been banned from playing on their own territory due to the country's involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, unlike Russian teams, which have been banned from all UEFA and FIFA competitions, Belarus has been permitted to continue participating in international competitions, albeit at neutral venues and without spectators. Since September 2021, Belarus's home venue has been the Central Stadium in Kazan, Russia, due to travel sanctions imposed after an incident with Ryanair Flight 4978.

The decision to allow Belarus to continue competing in football has been controversial, with critics arguing that the country's dismal human rights record and involvement in the Ukraine war warrant a complete ban. There have been reports of state opposition leading to imprisonment for athletes and football players, and the national team has been accused of being filled with stooges as a result of blacklists sidelining players with political views deemed unacceptable by the government.

Despite the controversy, Belarus has continued to participate in international football competitions, including the Euro 2024 qualifiers, where they are set to compete against Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Kosovo, and Andorra. Their first match in the qualifiers took place in March 2023 against Switzerland in Serbia.

The Football Federation of Belarus, founded in 1989, governs the national football team and runs the national football leagues and tournaments. The men's national team made its international debut in a friendly match against Lithuania in July 1992, drawing 1-1. They have never qualified for a major football tournament but have achieved some success in minor tournaments, such as winning the LG Cup in 2002 and the Malta International Tournament in 2004 and 2008.

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Belarus's economic dependence on Russia

Belarus has historically been dependent on Russia for both exports and imports, with over 40% of its total exports and 55% of its imports linked to Russia. This dependence has only intensified since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, with Belarusian exports to Russia soaring to over 60% by 2023.

The main areas of Belarus' economic dependence on Russia include:

  • Energy imports: Belarus has traditionally imported subsidised oil and gas exclusively from Russia. Russian energy subsidies played a significant role in Belarus's economic growth in the early 21st century, allowing the country to save about USD 5 billion per year, or 15% of GDP, on energy imports on average between 2000 and 2008. Gas imports are crucial, as Belarus used to produce 90% of its electricity and heat from gas. Since 2011, Russia has controlled Belarus's entire gas infrastructure through Gazprom, which also owns the gas storage facilities.
  • Bilateral trade: Belarus relies heavily on economic and financial support from Moscow, which is provided in exchange for a commitment to further economic integration with Russia. Trade with non-Russian partners is increasingly conducted via Russian logistical infrastructure and banking systems, further increasing Belarus's dependence on Russia.
  • Capital inflows: Since August 2020, Belarus has lost access to international capital markets and major financial institutions, leaving Russia as its primary creditor. By the end of 2022, the Belarusian government owed USD 10.2 billion to the Russian government, Russian bondholders, and the Eurasian Development Bank (controlled by the Russian authorities), comprising nearly 60% of its total government debt.
  • Foreign direct investment (FDI): As of 2018, 55% of all FDI in Belarus came from Russian investors, who hold significant stakes in the energy, telecommunications, and banking sectors. Despite a change in statistical reporting in 2019 that lowered the reported figures, Russia remains the largest foreign investor in Belarus, especially as Western investors are held back by sanctions and political risks.

The economic dependence of Belarus on Russia has increased since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Belarus lost its second-largest export market (Ukraine) and faced additional sanctions from Western countries. Moscow increased its energy subsidies and offered Belarus access to a vast market left open by former international trading partners, further eroding Belarus's economic independence.

Frequently asked questions

While athletes from both countries are banned from competing under their national titles, flags, or anthems, they are allowed to compete as "Individual Neutral Athletes" or "AIN" from the French translation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that athletes from Russia and Belarus could participate as individuals, without displaying any national symbols, as they did not want to discriminate against athletes based on their passports.

Since September 2021, the home venue for the Belarusian national football team has been the Central Stadium in Kazan, Russia, due to travel sanctions imposed after an incident with Ryanair Flight 4978.

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