International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed concern over what it describes as an intensified “disinformation and defamation campaign” emanating from Russia.
Fake phone calls purportedly from Russia have been received, with callers claiming to be the chairperson of the African Union Commission and urging the IOC to issue a statement against Russia’s alleged politicisation of sport.
“There appears to have been a new incident in the Russian disinformation and defamation campaign against the International Olympic Committee and its president. Fake phone calls purporting to be from the African Union Commission appear to have been made by the same group that has targeted a number of world leaders and other high-profile figures in the same way,” the IOC said in a statement.
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In response to this, the African Commission itself is planning to issue its own statement on the matter. The IOC has linked the fraudulent phone calls to a group that has targeted celebrities around the world. This campaign, which is allegedly the work of Russian entities, has had an impact on the IOC since November 2023.
In an official statement, the IOC condemned Russia’s plan to host “Friendship Games” in September. It called it a “cynical attempt to politicise sport”. The IOC has urged nations invited by Moscow to boycott the games and withhold support.
