Life

German president boycotting Olympics over Russia’s human rights violations

German president boycotting Olympics over Russia’s human rights violations

BERLIN — German President Joachim Gauck is boycotting the Winter Olympics and will not travel to Sochi, Russia next year.

Gauck took the decision to protest human rights violations and the harassment of Russian opposition political figures, Der Spiegel reported Sunday. The magazine said the Russian government was informed of his decision last week.

Wolfgang Kumm, APJoachim Gauck
Wolfgang Kumm, AP
Joachim Gauck

Presidential spokeswoman Ferdos Forudastan confirmed the move to the dpa news agency on Sunday. Gauck’s office could not immediately be reached for further confirmation.

Forudastan told dpa that there was no set rule saying German presidents had to travel. Former president Horst Koehler did not travel to Vancouver for the Winter Games in 2010.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) said on its website that Gauck had not been planning to visit to Sochi “according to our knowledge.”

DOSB director general Michael Vesper told dpa that “(someone) who doesn’t travel doesn’t automatically boycott something. It’s certainly not directed against the German team.”

Gauck, an outspoken critic of Russia’s human-rights record, is yet to visit the country since taking office in March 2012. A planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2012 fell through, apparently for scheduling reasons.

Gauck travelled to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London last year.

Article continues below

Alexei Pushkov, the Kremlin-connected head of the Russian parliament’s lower house, quickly responded to the perceived slight on Twitter: “Gauck never condemned the killing of children and women in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But he denounces Russia (so strongly) he would not go to Sochi.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke against boycotting the games in Sochi last August, in response to Russia’s new law banning alleged gay propaganda. The chancellery said the games in February would focus attention on such issues, and that athletes would be most affected by a boycott.

Arrangements for Merkel’s attendance at Sochi have not yet been made.

© 2013, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Some donations to waitress who said she received anti-gay note being refunded

Previous article

Rainbow Christmas lights in memory of gay teen spark controversy in Italy

Next article