BBC, The organizers of the international chess tournament under the auspices of FIDE in Turkish Sivash withdrew the invitation to the Armenian chess player Maria Gevorgyan, citing the protests of the Azerbaijani delegation.
When Gevorgyan was outraged by this decision on Facebook, the organizers threatened her with a lawsuit. The chess player told the BBC about this.
The Russian BBC service has sent a request to the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and is waiting for a response.
“Offensive decision”
Maria Gevorgyan is an international FIDE master, a three-time champion of Armenia in women’s chess and a prize-winner of international tournaments.
Previously, she had already played in tournaments in Turkey and did not encounter similar problems.
According to Gevorgyan, she had a very busy August and she didn’t intentionally go to the Turkish tournament.
However, on August 7, she received an invitation from the organizers, who offered to pay for travel and accommodation.
Gevorgyan agreed, but soon one of the organizers, Mustafa Eroglu, withdrew the invitation.
He wrote to Gevorgyan that chess players from Azerbaijan delivered an ultimatum: if there is an Armenian in the tournament, they will refuse to participate.
Eroglu apologized and said that the tickets of the Armenian chess player were handed over.
Gevorgyan posted a snapshot of Eroglu’s post on her Facebook page.
“In every country, wherever I speak, I always respected all opponents, regardless of their nationality or political views,” wrote Gevorgyan.
Maria Gevorgyan filed a complaint with FIDE and hopes that henceforth chess organizations will not allow such ultimatums.
She added that the withdrawal of the invitation because of her nationality was considered extremely offensive.
Meanwhile, Eroglu contacted Gevorgyan and accused her of violating the confidentiality of correspondence, threatening to sue.
Sport and nationalism
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh has been ongoing since 1988.
As a result, Azerbaijan has lost control over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding areas.
The Armenians were forced to leave their homes outside of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Azerbaijanis living in Armenia became refugees.
There is no transport connection between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the entry of representatives of two nationalities into the neighboring territory is fraught with difficulties.
In May, on the eve of the European Football League final in Baku, fans with Armenian surnames and even surnames similar to Armenian reported that they could not get a visa to Azerbaijan.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, midfielder of Arsenal English club, decided not to fly to Azerbaijan for the final match, despite the fact that official Baku guaranteed his safety.
Armenian athletes, however, sometimes attend international competitions in Azerbaijan.
In 2015, the Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian participated in the World Cup in Baku. At the European Games in Baku, the Armenian wrestler Migran Harutyunyan won the silver medal.
Armenians and people with surnames phonetically similar to Armenian are often detained at the border control at the entrance to Azerbaijan. Some of them are denied entry.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly reported that Russians coming to Azerbaijan are discriminated against based on ethnicity based on Armenian surnames, names or patronymics.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in January that the department has repeatedly drawn the attention of the Azerbaijani side to the unacceptability of the situation.
The clock is ticking. Aliev’s doom is looming on the horizon.
Azerbaijan has not yet assimilated into civilized society
Neither Azerbaijan or Turkey will probBly ever assimilate since sportsmen and athletes are banned or discriminated based on their ethnicity.
Nothing more than the typical countries these 2 have been, with lack Of regard for a small neighboring nation and it’s history it’s no surprise they would do such thing. Specially that this is not the first time it’s happening and the international community that includes all the so called friends we have such as France, Greece, Iran, and more have turned blind eye to other Turko-Azeri dirty games they played on Armenians. Examples of are the AX murderer Tamil Safarov, who has been living a free and rewarding life for years now. And the destruction of the Armenian mideavel cemetery and other Churches in Nakhijevan in the early 2000’s. Very dark and depressing.
Where are all our allies and countries which love Armenia and countries which recognized the Genocide? Where are they to condemn Turkey and Azerbaijan for their wicked behavior? How about Iran, Greece, Levont, France, Germany, Poland, Serbia, and more? Many of them are in this tournament and yet they should come to our rescue just as Turks did a favor to the Azeri cause. This is dark and depressing. Not saying every country, but maybe the clossesed kin ones. Is there any business and political disadvantage to doing the right thing? Of course….
What allies or friends are you speaking about??? Whoever recognizes the Genocide is just for political purposes, to gain voters. Nobody cares. Thanks for recognizing the fact at least. Those friends and allies said nothing when 1.5 millions of Armenian were slaughtered and raped. Why should they speak now?
The Turkic nation of Azerbaijan has deep resentment and hate towards Armenians, I have traveled to Turkey many times, and never had any issues, but three times I was denied entry to Azerbaijan for business conferences and every one of my visa applications refused, and I am not a citizen of Armenia, and was not born there. I have an Armenian surname from my Great Grandfather.
When politics gets involved in International sports it loses the meaning of sportsmanship altogether.
Aderbajani Government must repremented for their arrogant attitude immediately so that there will not be repeats in the future.
When a nation like Azerbaijan calls a convicted axe murderer a National hero, thats when you can understand the rather demented mentality of their leadership.
At a NATO sponsored training program for military officers in Hungary, an Azerbaijani officer ramil safrov decided to buy an axe, casually walked into the sleeping Armenians room, killed him and decapitated him. He was convicted and sent to jail in Hungary, he was eventually allowed to serve his time in Azerbaijan, but upon his arrival the President Aliyev pardoned him, promoted him, paid him wages for his time in jail, gave him a new apartment and declared him a national hero.. If that’s is the mentality of their educated President then just imagine the mentality of their average citizen towards Armenians
When someone is afraid of or threatened by your abilities they will try do dodge your powers.