The General Assembly in Bahrain's capital Manama voted by 90 votes to 56 to partially suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) with six abstentions, after a motion for their full suspension narrowly failed by 74 votes to 65 with 13 abstentions.

Similarly, a motion to fully suspend the NPC of Belarus was defeated by 74 votes to 56 with 15 abstentions, but it was partially suspended by 79 votes to 57 with nine abstentions.

This means both NPCs lose IPC membership rights, but their athletes can compete as individual neutrals at next year's Paralympics.

Both nations had been frozen out of Paralympic sport because of the war in Ukraine.

The participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes is subject to them meeting conditions set by the IPC Governing Board, and also covers major events in the six sports still governed by the IPC - Para athletics, Para dance sport, Para ice hockey, Para powerlifting, Para swimming and shooting Para sport.

The partial suspension applies for two years.

A failure to fulfil membership obligations under the 2011 and 2022 IPC Constitutions was the justification for the move, including "the organisation of successful Paralympic Games", promoting Para sport without political discrimination and ensuring "in sport practiced within the Paralympic Movement, the spirit of fair play prevails, violence is banned, the health risk of the athletes is managed and fundamental ethical principles are upheld".

The updated Constitution covering activities from August 24 this year includes obligations to "be neutral and impartial in matters of politics" and to not do anything "that risks bringing the IPC, the Paralympic Movement, or Para sport into disrepute".

The RPC and NPC of Belarus can appeal the decision to the IPC Independent Appeals Tribunal.

Both Russia and Belarus' NPCs had been suspended at last year's Extraordinary General Assembly in Germany's capital Berlin, but an appeal was upheld on a "technicality" earlier this year which meant the matter returned to the General Assembly in Manama.

Russian and Belarusian athletes were initially due to compete as neutrals at last year's Winter Paralympics in Beijing, before the IPC reversed its stance on the eve of the Opening Ceremony and suspended them after multiple nations had threatened a boycott.

Russian athletes were allowed to compete under the RPC banner at Tokyo 2020 because of sanctions of the country for the state-sponsored doping scandal, which had led to it being banned outright at Rio 2016 in a decision which contrasted with the International Olympic Committee allowing each sport to make its own decision on their participation at the Olympics.

Russia has not competed at the Paralympic Games under its own flag since the drugs-tainted 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. 

IPC President Andrew Parsons, also an IOC member, claimed last month the General Assembly's decision on Russia and Belarus for Paris 2024 would be accepted because of the "democratic process" deployed.

Today, the Brazilian official urged IPC members to respect the decision.

"In reaching its decision, the IPC General Assembly was presented with evidence from the IPC, NPC Russia, and NPC Belarus, before a lengthy discussion took place," Parsons said.

"This provided an opportunity for IPC members to share their views on this subject.

"As this was a decision taken by the IPC General Assembly, I expect all IPC members to fully respect it. 

"With the decision now behind us, I hope the focus as we lead-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games can now be very much on sport and the performances of Para athletes."

Paralympics Ireland revealed it had voted for a full suspension of the RPC, but "respects the democratic process".

The Global Athlete group, however, has slammed the decision of the General Assembly.

"By allowing Russia to compete at the Paris Paralympics, the International Paralympic Committee has shown their true colours by kowtowing to Russia's influence over international sport," its director general Rob Koehler claimed. 

"Today's decision lacks reason and principle. 

"The fact that the IPC removed a ban when Russia's aggression on Ukraine has only increased, is contradictory and aligns them to the wrong side of history in this war. 

"Sadly, the IPC has ignored athletes' calls for a ban and has instead lent their support to Putin's war on Ukraine. 

"Today, the IPC has given Russia a global stage at the Paris Paralympic Games for their war propaganda. 

"As we have seen in the past, regardless of whether flags, anthems, or national colours are stripped away Putin will use every ounce of his athletes' participation to justify the war and death toll he has inflicted on the peaceful nation of Ukraine."

The IOC has said it has not taken a decision on the participation of both countries' athletes at Paris 2024, despite controversially lifting its recommended outright ban in March in favour of allowing those who have not supported the war in Ukraine and are not affiliated to the military to compete as individual neutrals.

Critics have questioned how strictly the IOC's measures are being implemented by International Federations and fear athletes would be used for political purposes by both countries' regimes, while officials in Russia and Belarus have taken aim at the conditions for participation.