Belarus will no longer host the 2021 ice hockey world championship after organizers announced they would not allow the country to host the tournament because of safety concerns prompted by political unrest.

The original plans were to host the event in Minsk and Latvia's capital Riga, but the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) confirmed that Minsk was no longer suitable on Monday. The news will be a disappointment to Belarus leader and hockey aficionado Alexander Lukashenko.

The decision has been made following widespread protests in Belarus over the outcome of the election in August. Lukashenko declared himself the victor with 80 percent of the vote but opposition politicians have disputed the results.

Since then, protestors have taken to the streets and have been met with resistance from police, with reports circulating that some members of the public were held captive and tortured.

The continued unrest in Belarus has led to fears the ice hockey championship could become embroiled in violence, while two tournament sponsors, Skoda Auto and Liqui Moly, threatened to pull out if it wasn't moved to another country.

Last week Lukashenko reassured competition organizers that it was still safe to host the event in Minsk.

But the IIHF, after consulting experts and stakeholders, said, "it is currently impossible to ensure the welfare of teams, spectators and officials while holding a World Championship in Belarus."

Lukashenko met with the IIHF President Rene Fasel last week and assured him that Belarus could safely host the tournament. "Protesters and other dissatisfied people do not storm government offices and capitols here," he said, just days after the scenes in the U.S. Capitol.

Aliaksandra Herasimenia, a three-time Olympic medallist who heads the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), said in a statement: "The IIHF decision has restored the Belarusian community's faith in justice. Sporting events cannot be held in countries where violence and torture are used against civilians."

The IIHF said it would consider the status of Latvia as a co-host given its joint bid with Belarus, adding there is a possibility of holding the tournament at a single venue to facilitate travel and the implementation of health measures.

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said his country would honor its commitment and evaluate how it could host the entire event, which runs from May 21 to June 6.