World Ice Hockey Federation Criticizes Latvia Over Belarus Flag Swap
udf.byThe red-and-white Belarusian flag (lower left) is seen flying in Riga outside the Radisson Blu Hotel, where players are staying. Hockey’s global governing body has criticized Latvian officials for removing the Belarusian flag from a display at the sport’s world championships in Riga and replacing it with a flag used by the opposition. The switch on May 24 during the 16-nation tournament, which Minsk was originally scheduled to co-host, saw the official Belarusian flag swapped out for the red-and-white flag that has been adopted by opponents of the country’s authoritarian leader, Alyaksandr Lukashenka.