Belarus

Both Russian and Belarusian officials frame the step as driven by Western hostility

Roughly 20,000 children have been illegally transferred to Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago

'We all fear that Vladimir Putin is using a tactical nuclear weapon, so it is essential that we remain vigilant in this regard'

'Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments'

It is the first time since the mid-1990s that Russia is placing nuclear weapons outside of the country

'Belarus and Iran are committed to the idea of building a just, multipolar world'

'Sport and politics in Russia and Belarus are heavily intertwined. Regimes in Russia and Belarus must not be allowed to use sport for their propaganda purposes'

By the end of 2022, there were at least 1,446 political prisoners being held in Belarus, having faced or still facing criminal proceedings, according to UN data

'It is of great concern that the authorities are criminalizing human rights work at a time when the role of human rights defenders is most needed'

'This is the realm of politics. But the Olympic Games can set an example for a world where everyone respects the same rules and one another'