Estonian politicians join boycott of Winter Olympics in Beijing

“Estonian President Alar Karis and other government officials will not travel to Beijing for the Winter Olympics, which begins on February 4,” Estonian news website ERR News reported on Monday.

Kristina Ots, a spokeswoman for the country’s Foreign Ministry, said the ministry “has no information about plans to participate in the Beijing Olympics by any member of the government.”

Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said in November that the country’s athletes could decide for themselves to participate in the event. As she added, a diplomatic boycott is a matter for politicians.

The West accuses China of violating human rights

In 2021, Jen Psaki, a White House spokeswoman, reported that US diplomacy also intends to boycott the Winter Games in China due to “the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region and other human rights abuses.” Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Lithuania, Netherlands and New Zealand joined the boycott.

China has repeatedly criticised the countrys’ decision as a violation of the political neutrality required under the Olympic Charter.

The Winter Olympics in Beijing will begin on February 4 and run for two weeks.