The Russian Paralympic Committee and its athletes denied the chance to compete at the Winter Games have departed Beijing just moments before the opening ceremony is due to get underway.
The International Paralympic Committee sparked huge criticism on Wednesday after initially allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the Games - but as neutrals.
However, after mounting pressure across the globe amid the war in Ukraine, the IPC gave in and performed a major U-turn on Thursday, announcing that athletes from the two countries were indeed banned from competing.
Russia had looked to appeal that ban - considering going to the Court of Arbitration of Sport, but they have instead decided to withdraw their athletes from China before launching a scathing verbal attack against the IOC.
A statement from Russia's governing body on Friday read: "The Russian Paralympic Committee has carefully studied all the arguments according to which Russian athletes are deprived of the right to participate in the Games in Beijing.
"None of them stand up to criticism - the decision is absolutely politicised, it contradicts all the postulates of the Paralympic movement and clearly, clearly, tells everyone: double standards, unfortunately, have become the norm for modern sports.
"The current situation also makes it clear to everyone: strong rivals, which the Russian team has always been and will be, are not needed today.
"The recommendations of the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, lead to the degradation and collapse of the entire world of sports.
"After receiving the decision of the IPC on the non-admission of the team to the Games, the RPC involved leading Russian and foreign law firms to conduct a legal examination of the possibility of the RPC applying to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and obtaining a positive decision during the accelerated proceedings.
"Unfortunately, this is prevented by Article 2.9 of the Paralympic Games Section of the IPC Rules, according to which the IPC 'may, at its sole discretion, at any time refuse to participate in any athlete without giving reasons', as well as the absence in the IPC Constitution of an arbitration clause allowing the RPC to apply to CAS to resolve disputes.
"The Executive Committee of the RPC and the Headquarters of the RPC at the XIII Paralympic Games, which includes the presidents of the federations and senior coaches in winter Paralympic sports, decided to reserve the right to apply to the appropriate international and national courts when the RPC considers it timely and necessary. The RPC is asking for help and support from the World Disability Union and Rehabilitation International.
"The Russian Paralympic Committee and its athletes currently do not consider it possible or expedient to stay in Beijing and are planning to leave the capital of the Winter Games, the city of wonderful people, in the near future.
"The Russian team, the leadership of the Russian Paralympic Committee, the entire Russian Paralympic family sincerely thanks everyone who supports it in this difficult time.
"As well as the organizing committee of the Beijing Games and the volunteers of the Paralympics - even though our stay here was short-term, but thanks to them it was as comfortable and positive as possible.
"Our team has been and remains committed to the principles of true Paralympicism, the purpose of which is to enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence, to inspire and delight the world.'
Russia had been set for 71 athletes to take part in the Winter Paralympics, along with 12 from Belarus.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has managed to s end their full team of 20 athletes and nine guides over to China for the Games.
Ukraine's full team of athletes will compete in just two sports out in Beijing - the biathlon and cross-country skiing.
The IPC made the announcement of Russia and Belarus' ban from the Paralympics on Thursday morning, with president Andrew Parsons insisting the move was made to "preserve the integrity of these Games".
