Baku decided to return the members of the national weightlifting team from the European Championship in Yerevan in response to a provocation with the burning of the Azerbaijani flag at the opening ceremony of the championship. This is stated in a joint statement by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.
The statement notes that on April 14, at the opening ceremony of the European heavy athletics championship in the Armenian capital, the flag of Azerbaijan was defiantly burned by an officially accredited person.
“The barbaric act was committed at the ceremony for which the Prime Minister of Armenia was present and was accompanied by the applause of representatives of the Armenian public. The positioning of the executor of provocation as a hero is a striking example of ethnic hostility and xenophobia, Azerbaijanophobia. Such actions completely contradict the goals and principles of sports, promoting the world and mutual understanding between the peoples. Politicalization of sports is strictly unacceptable, ”the statement said.
In this regard, the Azerbaijani side decided to return Azerbaijani athletes from Yerevan.
Azerbaijan also calls on the European Wilds Federation to impose sanctions against Armenia.