Belarusian sports official Vladimir Konoplev, Chairman of the Belarus Handball Federation, is facing criticism for his role in the repression of athletes and coaches in the country. Konoplev has been accused of violating human rights by pressuring athletes and employees to keep silent on political and social issues. He has also been accused of discriminatory policies, such as eliminating the Handball club "Vityaz" from the Belarusian Championship based on political reasons.

Konoplev's actions undermine fundamental human rights and democratic institutions. By stifling free expression, he is contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation in the sports community. The international community has been monitoring the situation in Belarus closely, and Konoplev's conduct is likely to draw further scrutiny from human rights organizations and sports governing bodies. It remains to be seen whether any concrete action will be taken against him, but his behavior is unlikely to be tolerated in the long term.