The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Azerbaijan has expressed a formal protest regarding the use of music with political and separatist content by the Armenian figure skating pair Nikita Rakhmanin and Karina Akopova during their performance at the XXV Winter Olympic Games. The pair utilized a composition titled "Artsakh," which Azerbaijan identifies as a direct violation of international sporting principles.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, the NOC has officially notified the relevant bodies of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the matter. The Azerbaijani side emphasized that the term "Artsakh" has long served as the ideological foundation for Armenia's illegal and separatist policies against the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan. The selection of such music for a global event like the Olympics is viewed as a clear political and ideological provocation that contradicts fundamental Olympic values.
The NOC highlighted that under the core principles of the Olympic Charter, any form of political, ideological, or separatist propaganda is strictly prohibited during the Games. One of the IOC's primary missions is to keep sport independent of politics and to prevent the exploitation of athletes and competitions for political ends. Such incidents are seen as damaging to the spirit of the Olympic Games, sports ethics, and the principle of neutrality, while undermining peace and mutual trust in the region.
The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan reaffirmed that the Olympic Games should remain a symbol of peace, friendship, and mutual respect among nations. This protest follows Azerbaijan's consistent efforts to ensure that international sporting platforms are not used to challenge its territorial integrity or promote separatism. The Olympic Charter's Rule 50 specifically states that no kind of demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues, or other areas.
