National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan filed a protest with the IOC over the music in the Armenian figure skaters' program

The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan (NOC) has lodged a protest regarding the use of music titled "Artsakh," bearing a political and separatist nature, by figure skating pair Nikita Rakhmanin and Karina Akopova, representing Armenia at the XXV Winter Olympic Games, during the competition.

As reported to BAKU.WS by the NOC, official representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were informed that the term "Artsakh" reflects the ideological essence of the illegal and separatist policy that Armenia has pursued for many years regarding the internationally recognized territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The NOC emphasized that the choice of such a musical program at an international sporting event like the Olympic Games, which should remain outside of politics, bears a pronounced political and ideological character and contradicts Olympic values.

It is noted that in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, any form of political, ideological, or separatist propaganda is unacceptable at the Olympic Games. One of the key missions of the IOC is to keep sport outside of politics, as well as to prevent the use of athletes and competitions for political purposes.

The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan stated that such actions damage the spirit of the Olympic Games, sports ethics, and international sports cooperation, as well as undermine the atmosphere of peace and mutual trust in the region.

In its protest, the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan once again emphasized that the Olympic Games are a symbol of peace and friendship between nations, and any attempts to use them as a platform for political provocations and separatist propaganda are unacceptable.