Azerbaijan’s Olympic Committee Files Protest Over Armenian Figure Skaters’ Program

The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan has lodged a protest against the competitive program of the Armenian figure skating pair Karina Akopova / Nikita Rakhmanin, effectively attempting to assign a political subtext to the musical accompaniment of the Olympic performance.

The complaint was triggered by the use of the composition “Artsakh” by Armenian composer Ara Gevorgyan. In a statement, the Azerbaijani side claimed that the title of the piece allegedly “reflects the ideological essence of separatist policy,” a position that observers say goes beyond the realm of sport and contradicts Olympic principles.

At the same time, the music in question is a long-established part of Armenian cultural heritage and is used exclusively as an artistic element of the program. No political statements were made by the athletes, and the program itself was approved and cleared for competition by international sports authorities.

It was with this very composition that Akopova and Rakhmanin won silver medals at the ISU To Milano qualification tournament in Beijing, securing Armenia’s Olympic quota in pair skating — a historic achievement for the country.

According to sports experts, the attempt to challenge the choice of music after the program had already received official approval appears to be an effort to bring political disputes into the Olympic arena, which traditionally emphasizes neutrality and respect for cultural expression.

It should be noted that Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin changed their sporting citizenship in the summer of 2025 and will make their Olympic debut for Armenia at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Their short program is scheduled for February 15.