Azerbaijan Complaint Leads to Removal of ‘Artsakh’ Title From Olympic Records

International sports bodies removed the title of the song Artsakh from official Olympic records for Armenia’s pair figure skaters after reviewing a complaint submitted by Azerbaijan, a decision critics say amounts to political pressure on cultural expression at the Games.

The issue emerged ahead of the figure skating competition at the 25th Winter Olympic Games, where Armenian skaters Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin are scheduled to perform their short program to Artsakh, a composition by Armenian composer Ara Gevorgyan. Azerbaijani officials objected to the use of the title, arguing that its appearance at the Olympic Games would carry political meaning and violate the Olympic Charter’s requirement of political neutrality.

Following the complaint, the International Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union reviewed the matter and agreed to alter how the music is referenced in official Olympic materials. In event schedules and documentation, the program is no longer listed as Artsakh and instead appears as Music by Ara Gevorgyan.

The decision does not prevent the Armenian pair from skating to the composition itself. Akopova and Rakhmanin remain entered in the competition and are scheduled to perform their short program on Feb. 15, followed by the free skate on Feb. 16.

The change, however, has fueled criticism that Azerbaijan used diplomatic pressure to suppress Armenian cultural expression on an international stage. Critics note that the intervention targeted the title of the music rather than any rule violation related to the performance, effectively erasing the name of the work from official records while allowing the melody to remain.

Olympic organizers said the decision reflects efforts to keep sporting events separate from political disputes. In this case, governing bodies focused on how the music was labeled rather than removing the composition from competition altogether.

The program has already drawn significant attention ahead of the Games. The Armenian pair first performed the routine earlier this season, and videos of the skate circulated widely on social media, bringing the athletes increased international recognition.

Akopova has said skating to Artsakh was a long-held personal goal. Born in Moscow, she has spoken publicly about her pride in representing Armenia and about the emotional importance of performing to music that reflects her heritage. She has described the program as deeply symbolic, linking her Olympic appearance to her Armenian identity.

The routine is expected to remain one of the most closely watched elements of Armenia’s figure skating appearance at the Games, both for its technical content and for the broader cultural significance attached to the composition—significance that remains intact despite its removal from official Olympic listings.

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