Italian leading media outlets, including “Rai” and “Agenzia Nova” news agencies have published articles condemning the burning of the national flag of Azerbaijan during the opening ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championships in the Armenian capital city of Yerevan.
The articles noted that after this incident the normal participation of Azerbaijani athletes in competitions was impossible, therefore they had left Armenia and returned to their homeland by passing through Georgia.
The articles emphasized that Azerbaijan had strongly condemned the burning of its National Flag in the European Weightlifting Championships.
The news stories also featured videos and photos of the incident as well as the joint statement by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan and the National Olympic Committee of the country condemning this incident as a “barbaric act” and a clear example of ethnic hatred and racism.
Nihad Budagov
Special correspondent
