MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. The Canadian government’s politically motivated decision to deny visas to Russian athletes directly harms not only the World Championship being held in Canada but also hockey worldwide, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

The diplomat noted that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had announced that, despite a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) requiring the International Ice Hockey Federation to allow Russian national teams to participate in the 2027 World Championships and other international tournaments, his government would deny visas to players on Russia’s national junior team, making it impossible for them to participate in the World Championship scheduled for December 26, 2026, through January 5, 2027, in Edmonton and Red Deer.

"With its politically motivated decision, the Canadian government is directly harming not only the World Championship being held in its country but also hockey worldwide," Zakharova noted. "Let us recall whom Mark Carney is trying to keep out of the tournament: a team that has won more medals at the World Junior Championships than any other in history - 13 gold, 13 silver, and 11 bronze medals. Whether such actions will benefit the championship’s entertainment value and appeal to spectators is not a rhetorical question," she added.

The diplomat also pointed out that three Canadian ministers responsible for foreign affairs, immigration, and sports had immediately expressed solidarity with Carney, supporting their prime minister in a joint statement.