(ANSA) – ROME, AUG 26 – The Russian embassy in Italy on Tuesday slammed Sports Minister Andrea Abodi for allegedly using “double standards” in ruling out an international sports ban for Israel while saying Russia’s ban was justified because its actions in Ukraine were “much bloodier” than Tel Aviv’s against the Palestinians.
“It would be desirable for the Italian authorities to refrain from making statements, through their own sports officials, who are responsible for preparing for the Olympics, that distort the meaning and significance of their task,” the Russian Embassy in Italy wrote on its Facebook account, referring to Abodi’s words Monday at the Rimini Meeting of the influential Catholic activist group Comunione e Liberazione (CL)..
The minister, the embassy writes, after expressing his opposition to the exclusion of Israeli athletes from international sports competitions, stated that “Russia’s exclusion, on the contrary, is justified, as Russia’s actions are far more ‘bloody’.
It is a prime example, the embassy claims, of the ‘double standards’ of representatives of the Western establishment!” (ANSA).
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Last modified: August 27, 2025