Crimean authorities ban athletes from using Ukrainian symbols

The Ministry of Sports in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory of Crimea has banned the use of Ukrainian symbols on the peninsula, Ukrainian online news agency Investigative Journalism Center reported on Monday.

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"In connection with the termination of the transition period in the Crimea, the ministry requests all employees and inmates of public institutions and organizations, enterprises in the field of physical culture and sport and municipalities comply with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea in regard to their national symbols, and to work on the prevention of the use of Ukrainian symbols in daily work and education-training sports practice," the document says.

The ministry also called on all sports organizations on the peninsula to conduct civil-patriotic events with all participants in sports.

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