Footage from the opening ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan exhibits a person working to the stage, snatching Azerbaijan’s flag from a flag-bearer and setting it on hearth.
(AA)
The Azerbaijani delegation has withdrawn from the European Weightlifting Championships on the Armenian capital after the nation’s flag was burned on the opening ceremony.
An announcement from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Sports activities and the Nationwide Olympic Committee mentioned on Saturday that the flag was demonstratively burned by an formally accredited particular person on the opening ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championship within the Armenian capital Yerevan on Friday.
It emphasised that the act contradicted the objectives and rules of sports activities, which promote peace and mutual understanding amongst nations.
“The politicisation of sports activities is completely unacceptable,” the assertion mentioned.
“In the course of the opening ceremony of the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, the barbaric act passed off, and the Azerbaijan flag was set on hearth.”
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Breaking: On the European Weightlifting Championship’s opening ceremony in #Yerevan, a person possessing a VIP cross, seated alongside Armenian authorities, leapt onto the stage, set the Azerbaijani flag 🇦🇿 ablaze, and eliminated it from the venue. #Azerbaijan #Armenia pic.twitter.com/ORyDYlMHWO
— The Azeri Instances (@AzeriTimes) April 14, 2023
‘Barbaric act’
“That is deeply unacceptable and exhibits that Armenia will not be able to host such occasions,” the assertion added.
“We name on the worldwide group and worldwide sports activities establishments to strongly condemn this barbaric act. We additionally name on the European Weightlifting Federation to impose sanctions in opposition to Armenia,” mentioned Farid Gayibov, Azerbaijan’s minister of youth and sports activities, on Twitter.
The European Weightlifting Championship started on Friday in Yerevan.
Designer Aram Nikolyan burned the Azerbaijani flag on stage and took it out of the corridor through the opening ceremony. He was detained and escorted to one in all Yerevan’s police stations however was freed shortly.
The competitors is being held from April 15 to April 23.
The one hundred and first European Weightlifting Championships will embrace 380 athletes from 40 European nations.
The European Championship is a qualifying occasion for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
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Supply: TRTWorld and companies