Linn Kazmaier and her guide Florian Baumann demonstratively turned away from Russian participants during an award ceremony at the Paralympics when their national anthem was played. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is now investigating the Germans’ behavior because political statements are banned. The New York Times reports on the IPC investigation.

Protest against Russian participation with flag leads to IPC investigation

The incident occurred after the visually impaired women’s cross-country skiing sprint in Tesero, Italy. The Russian Anastasiia Bagiian won gold together with her guide Sergei Siniakin. Kazmaier and her guide Florian Baumann came in second. During the award ceremony, Kazmaier and Baumann turned away from the two Russians and also stood at a demonstrative distance for the official photos.

According to the athletes, this action was directed against the participation of Russian athletes under their flag. With these Winter Paralympics Russian athletes will compete under the Russian national flag for the first time since 2014.

Kazmaier after the protest: “It’s a shame that politics overshadows everything.”

Kazmaier said on ARD that her decision was not directed against the Russian athletes personally.

“Maybe they don’t support the system in Russia itself. Maybe they’re even people you could be friends with. But it’s a shame that politics overshadows everything. That’s why we decided to keep our hats on and not turn to the flags.”

Athletes are prohibited from “demonstrations, protests or political statements.”

Baumann added that they also want to show solidarity with Ukrainian athletes who have been involved in recent events Winter Paralympics met in Beijing. Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and started a war in Ukraine in 2022.

According to the IPC’s rules, athletes are prohibited from “demonstrations, protests or political statements” if these could disrupt competitions or official ceremonies – such as medal ceremonies. This ban applies not only to the competition venues, but also to the podium and other areas of the Games.

A Ukrainian woman wore earrings with the words “STOP WAR” written on them

According to the New York Times, the IPC said it was aware of the incident and was currently collecting evidence to investigate the matter. The German Paralympic Committee initially did not want to comment.

The incident is not the first politically charged moment at the current Games. Ukrainian biathlete Oleksandra Kononova had previously been warned after wearing earrings in the colors of Ukraine with the inscription “STOP WAR” while accepting her gold medal.

Several countries boycotted the opening of the Paralympics

The participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the games was controversial in advance. A total of six Russian and four Belarusian athletes are starting with special approvals (“bipartite entries”).

Only a decision by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in December 2025 made their participation under the national flag possible after they had previously been excluded from qualifying competitions. Several European countries including Germany and Ukraine therefore boycotted the opening ceremony. The IPC therefore simply had employees carry the Ukrainian flag – against the will of the Ukrainians.

From the front hospital to the Paralympics

The Russians, however, seem to be less strict. Among other things, the IPC has allowed war veterans to also take part in the games. According to a report in the Moscow Times, Russia has even initiated a fast-track program to get war veterans to the Paralympics particularly quickly. According to the report, many are recruited for sports directly in the front hospitals. As far as we know, there are no participants in this year’s games yet.