Pat Hickey PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

THE EUROPEAN OLYMPIC Council (EOC) has expressed its “strong support” for former president of the Irish Olympic Council Pat Hickey.

At a meeting of the various European Olympic committees in Minsk in Belarus, the message of support for Hickey was expressed by both acting president of the EOC (a role Hickey had previously filled) Janez Kocijancic and by president of Belarus itself Alexander Lukashenko.

The message of goodwill was broadcast on big screens at the event and noted by the Olympic Council of Ireland in a tweet.

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Hickey remains in Rio de Janeiro as he faces charges of ticket touting, setting up a cartel, and illicit marketing following the seizure of OCI tickets by Brazilian police in August.

He stood aside as president of OCI and acting president of the EOC following his arrest.

Kevin Mallon, an executive with UK sports hospitality firm THG and the man from whom the tickets were initially seized, also remains in Rio to face charges.

Hickey, whose latest court appearance in Rio happened yesterday, has vowed to fight “each and every one” of the charges facing him.

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