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The Czech Republic announced this week that it would no longer issue visas to Russian-born players. NHL Global Series, It kicks off next month with a game between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks in Prague.
Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek said in a statement that the government had sent a letter to the NHL informing them of their decision. Russian invasion of Ukraine It launched its offensive in February and has continued to do so since then.
“The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to the NHL stating that, at the moment, the Czech Republic or other states in the (visa-free) Schengen area are Issue visas to Russian players to enter our territory,” the statement read.
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The ministry added that it had informed the league “about ongoing negotiations on banning the entry of citizens of the Russian Federation who had already obtained a previously valid visa”.
The NHL announced in February that international competition would resume for the first time since 2019, with the Predators and the Sharks facing off. colorado avalanche Columbus Blue Jackets – the latter will take place in Tampere, Finland in November.
Team rosters have not been finalized, but both the Sharks and Predator will be affected by the Czech government’s decision.
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Nashville’s 25-year-old center Yakov Trenin was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia and represented his country at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning a bronze medal.
Russian-born Yevgeny Svechnikov of the Sharks is also in doubt. He represented Russia at the World Junior Championships and won a silver medal prior to his NHL career.
The ministry declined to say whether the NHL had responded.
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Foreign Minister Jan Lipavski of the Czech Republic is in New York this week United Nations General Assemblygave a speech in which he spoke of the Russian aggression.
“Russia’s unjust, provocative and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine not only blatantly violates the UN Charter, but also seriously harms the global economy and the food security of the many countries assembled in this hall. It seriously threatens the rules-based international order.It harms all.UN member states,” he said. in a statement.
“The Czech Republic fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty, unity and independence within its internationally recognized borders.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.