Global Athlete Call for Strongest Sanctions Until Missing Advocate Anatol Kotau is Found
28 August 2025: Global Athlete joins our colleagues at the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF) in calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the international sports community to take immediate and decisive action by imposing the strongest possible sanctions until human rights advocate Anatol Kotau is located.
On 21 August 2025, Mr. Kotau travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, on professional matters. Shortly after his arrival, all contact with him was lost. His last known communications were that same day. Since then, his whereabouts remain unknown.
The disappearance of Mr. Kotau is deeply alarming. As a long-standing advocate for athlete safety and human rights, he has been a target of political repression. He is currently listed on wanted registers by both Belarusian and Russian authorities, raising grave concerns about his safety and the risk of political persecution.
The sports movement has consistently positioned itself as a bridge to peace and safety. The fact that a respected voice for athlete rights has suspiciously gone missing must serve as a red flag to the entire international sports community. Doing nothing is not an option. Failure to act sends a chilling message to every athlete, whistleblower, and human rights defender that speaking out against abuse and injustice comes with the risk of disappearance or worse.
We are urging the IOC, International Federations, and governments worldwide to:
Impose the strongest possible sanctions until Mr. Kotau’s safety and location are confirmed.
Publicly call for his immediate release or safe return.
Stand firmly with those who defend human rights in sport and ensure that their voices are protected, not silenced.
Sport cannot remain silent in the face of such threats. The international community must act with urgency to uphold its commitment to peace, human rights, and athlete safety.
For further details, please refer to the official release by the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF): https://bssf.eu/en/znik-anatol-kotau/
Media Contact: media@globalathlete.org
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