46 members of the European Parliament signed the letter, in which they urged the EU countries' governments to boycott the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia. Rikard Jozwiak, the Brussels-based correspondent of Radio Liberty posted that on Twitter.
46 members of the European Parliament have so far signed a letter addressed to all EU government urging a diplomatic boycott of the #WorldCup2018 in #Russia.#Ukraine #Syria #Crimea #Salisbury pic.twitter.com/tCplejGwN1
— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) April 17, 2018
The paper also describes the reasons why the MEPs decided to ignore the competition.
'While Putin continues the illegal annexation of Crimea, holds Ukrainian political prisoners and supports the war in eastern Ukraine. We cannot act like this competition is hosted by our good neighbor', the officials wrote in the letter.
They also referred to the poisoning of the Russian spy in Salisbury, calling it 'just the latest chapter in Vladimir Putin's mockery of our European values'.
FIFA World Cup in Russia is slated for June and July 2018. Ukraine's national team failed to qualify.
