The Baltic state is one of a number of European nations to criticise the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to explore a pathway for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the French capital under neutral banner.

Estonian Minister of Culture Piret Hartman joined politicians from Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in issuing a joint statement, slamming the return of athletes from the "aggressor countries" and "allowing sport to be used to legitimise and distract attention from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine".

Threats of a boycott of Paris 2024 have also grown, with Latvian Olympic Committee President Georges Tikmers warning that his country will shun the Games should Russia and Belarus participate.

But Sõõrumaa told Estonian politics television show ETV that "boycotts have never really led to anything" despite fearing that Russian athletes would be used as a propaganda tool by the country’s President Vladimir Putin.

"We tend to fantasise that it could transpire that some Russian athletes, under a neutral flag, are in fact engaging in some sort of false flag operation," said Sõõrumaa.

"Let this be a warning for these Games.

"Let's not forget that practically the majority of Russian athletes who will make it to the podium are military and get a [military] medal when they win.

"This is an absurd situation.

"It is preferable that many of them, instead, would not take part."

Estonia’s Beijing 2008 discus gold medallist Gerd Kanter, chair of the European Olympic Committees’ Athletes’ Commission, admitted he was also opposed to boycotting the Olympics.

"You shouldn't rush things," Kanter told ETV.

"Initially, different ideas of a boycott have come out, but if we think more broadly, the 2020 [Tokyo] Games were postponed due to the COVID pandemic; now, the topic is war.

"Four years is a very long time for an athlete.

"If someone is at their peak, but should then have to stay away from the Games, then this would be a major blow to their career.

"I would not make this decision for the athletes.

"Every athlete should be able to decide for themselves.

"It is clear that the whole process is very complicated and there are no ideal solutions, but at the moment, the ball is more in the International [Olympic] Committee's hands."

Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Guttsait, also head of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, has previously warned that his country will consider boycott Paris 2024 should athletes from Russia and Belarus be allowed to compete.

Guttsait announced that the decision would only be taken following talks with athletes after the NOCU staged an Extraordinary General Assembly yesterday to discuss the topic.

The IOC has warned that Ukraine would violate the Olympic Charter should the nation boycott the Games.

"As history has shown, previous boycotts did not achieve their political ends and served only to punish the athletes of the boycott NOC [National Olympic Committee]," a statement from the IOC read.

Guttsait also revealed yesterday that Britain plans to hold a summit of European Sports Minister to discuss the contentious move to reintroduce Russian and Belarusian athletes for Paris 2024.

According to Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk, up to 40 countries are opposed to the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The IOC has stressed that athletes from the two nations would be under "strict conditions" of neutrality, and need to "fully respect the Olympic Charter", with sanctions including a ban on national symbols remaining in place.