Baskov also emphasised that the IIHF still intends for the country's capital, Minsk, to be one of two cities to stage the competition. 

Belarus is due to co-host the event with Lavtia, but the Latvian Government has written to the IIHF urging it to find a new co-host following the disputed re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in August and a violent crackdown against protestors in the country.

IIHF President René Fasel has largely resisted calls to strip Belarus of co-hosting rights to one of the IIHF's flagship events, saying that "as [a] sports federation the IIHF is not a political entity and cannot move a tournament for political reasons", although he did describe Latvia's resistance to staging the tournament with Belarus as "understandable" last month.

An IIHF Expert Group has been tasked with conducting a full review into the 16-team competition due to run from May 21 to June 6 next year, which could also be under threat due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Per BelTA, Belarus' state-run news agency, coronavirus countermeasures was among the topics discussed on a call between Baskov and Fasel.

"We had a rather constructive conversation with the IIHF head," Baskov said.

"René Fasel once again stressed the intention of the International Ice Hockey Federation to hold the World Championship in Minsk and Riga.

"In any case, we are ready for any format of the World Championship and continue to prepare for it together with our Latvian partners."

The Working Group is due to present its findings to the IIHF Council later this month.

Baskov was only elected BIHA President in September, following the resignation of Gennadi Savilov, but he had been serving as Acting President.

Preparations for the 2021 Men's World Championship are top of his agenda, and Baskov has even gone as far as to claim Belarus can stage the tournament alone if Latvia pulls out.

Minsk hosted the 2014 Men's World Championship alone.