VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania’s president says she won’t attend the Sochi Olympics because of Russia’s human rights record and its “attitude” toward neighboring countries, including Lithuania.
Russia halted all dairy imports from Lithuania earlier this year, citing food safety standards. Lithuania said the move was retaliation for its efforts to get Ukraine to sign a partnership agreement with the European Union, which Russia opposes.
In a webcast news conference from Brussels on Thursday, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said she saw “no political possibility” to visit the Sochi Games because of Russia’s “human rights violations as well as the attitude toward Eastern partners and economic sanctions against Lithuania.”
The presidents of the U.S., France and Germany have also decided not to attend the Olympics in February.
