Belgian Senate refuses to boycott Sochi Olympic Games

On January 9, the Belgian Senate adopted a resolution to reject the boycott of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games. However, Belgian officials have expressed their concern about the human rights situation in Russia. The draft resolution with demand for boycott was put forward by the local Green Party.

Initially, a document developed by Bert Anse, a Flemish socialist, asked the Belgian Government to urge their Russian colleagues to abolish laws on ban of promotion of homosexuality and about NGO activities and to ensure the safety of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society activists in Russia.

Besides, the draft resolution has also called on the National Olympic Committee to put on the uniform of Belgian athletes in Sochi the calls for respect for human rights in Russia and, in particular, rights of sexual minorities, the "Interfax" reports.

Furthermore, members of the ecological party "Ecolo et Groen" have offered the Belgian Senat to boycott the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Games in the event if the Russian authorities fail to provide clear evidence of improving the human rights situation.

However, the Senate majority has rejected all the proposed amendments.