Azerbaijan Files Protest With IOC Over Armenian Skaters’ Use of “Artsakh” Music

MILAN — Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee has filed a formal protest with the International Olympic Committee over Armenian ice dancers Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin’s planned Olympic program, which is set to music by Ara Gevorgyan titled “Artsakh.”

Azerbaijan argues that the selection carries political meaning and violates the Olympic Charter’s requirement for political neutrality, urging the IOC to intervene ahead of the Winter Games.

Composer Ara Gevorgyan has officially granted permission for the Armenian ice dancers to perform to his composition “Artsakh” at the Olympic Games. He confirmed this in an interview with Sputnik Armenia.

The Armenian athletes had previously announced that they would skate to Gevorgyan’s “Artsakh.” It was revealed today that Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee has filed a formal protest over the use of the composition at the Winter Olympic Games. Although “Artsakh” is an instrumental piece with no lyrics, officials in Baku claim it carries “political and separatist undertones.”

Speaking with Sputnik Armenia, Gevorgyan said that, at the request of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the skaters formally sought his permission to use the music.

“I granted my permission and sent my written consent for them to submit to the Olympic Committee. Just yesterday, I received a video of their training session performed to this music,” the composer said.

Addressing Azerbaijan’s complaint, Gevorgyan suggested that the objection is primarily related to the title of the composition.

“Apparently, they don’t like the title,” he said. “They say Artsakh doesn’t exist, so the music shouldn’t have that name either. I completely disagree. I have compositions titled Van, Mush, Ararat, Sis, Adana, Vagharshapat. Should we now go and change all these titles? It is the author’s right to name their work as they see fit.”

Gevorgyan also expressed pride and satisfaction that Rakhmanin and Akopova have chosen his “Artsakh” composition for their Olympic performance.

“Our figure skaters have made an excellent musical choice. This is a very strong piece—many athletes have performed to it and gone on to win medals or place very highly,” he said.

The composer noted that “Artsakh” will be heard at the Olympic Games for the fourth time. It was first performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, followed by the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, with its fourth Olympic appearance taking place now.