National Federations of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have signed the letter which expresses concern at the "escalating Russian and Belarussian military aggression in Ukraine".

They insisted that athletes, judges and officials representing Russia and Belarus should be prevented from competing in international competitions and activities, and elected or appointed officials from both countries should "step back from their positions until further notice".

All five said they supported European Gymnastics' measures taken in March.

European Gymnastics followed the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes, officials and judges from its events, and went further by ruling that "all European Gymnastics authorities from Russia and Belarus cannot pursue their functions".

The Nordic governing bodies said that measures taken against Russia and Belarus "should imply both athletes and officials".

"Our hearts go out to the Ukrainian people who suffer under this brutal act of war and to our dear friends in the sports family who are now punished into a fight for survival rather than sporting glory," the statement concluded.

The FIG's decision to allow Russia and Belarus to attend its Congress in Istanbul has proved divisive, with at least seven European National Federations planning to boycott it.

The gathering had been moved from Sandefjord in Norway after it refused to welcome delegates from both countries.

Norway is joined by Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine in planning to boycott the Congress.

FIG President Morinari Watanabe, an International Olympic Committee member, has defended the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian attendance, insisting it is "our duty as an international organisation".