Azeri Chess Federation promises to secure Aronian’s safety
October 4, 2011 – 13:02 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – The 2011 Candidates Matches were originally awarded to Baku, Azerbaijan, yet were later moved to Kazan, Russia. Grandmaster Levon Aronian’s unwillingness to play in a country where he couldn’t feel comfortable as an Armenian was cited as a reason.
Azerbaijani Chess Federation Vice President Mahir Mamedov reasserted his country’s intension to host the next event in 2012.
According to Mamedov, the issue was discussed during FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s recent visit to Baku.
“At the moment Baku is hosting the World Boxing Championship, where Armenian boxers are also taking part. That’s not the first occasion when Armenian sportsmen have visited Azerbaijan, so there’s no problem for Aronian to visit Baku. In the previous cycle FIDE and Aronian received guarantees at a government level. No one would have hindered Aronian from living and creating in Baku, and he knows perfectly well himself that in Azerbaijan there would be and will be ideal conditions for an equal rivalry. For some reason, however, FIDE went with the wishes of the Armenian Federation and moved the tournament to Kazan. Nevertheless, this time we’ll also take part in the battle to hold the Candidates Tournament,” Mamedov stressed.
Other possible venues that have been mentioned for the Candidates Tournament are Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia and St. Louis in U.S., with the bid deadline set for January 31, WhyChess reported.
Source: http://www.panarmenian.net
Armenian Boxers Pelted With Stones in Baku
BAKU — According to media reports, the fights of Armenian athletes in the rings at Baku’s Heydar Aliyev sport and concert complex, where Boxing World Championship is being held, have been accompanied with unprecedented pressure from the stands as local spectators whistle and verbally insult the visitors from Yerevan. In one case some nationalists began to throw stones in the direction of Armenian boxers and shout anti-Armenian slogans. The Armenian delegation later reportedly said no Armenian athlete got an injury as a result of such attacks.
According to Azerbaijani qafqazinfo.az when an Armenian boxer took the ring, a group of activists from “liberation of Karabakh” organization attacked the Armenian boxers throwing stones against them.
The Azeri threatened Armenians to leave Baku. The bouts were soon stopped and the Armenian boxer and team of jury left the gym.
The 13-member Armenian delegation and the Russian team that has two ethnic Armenian athletes have been accommodated separately from other teams in view of security concerns…
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Such “activists” would especially make sure to hurt Aronian, because of his status as top chess player.
Better to be prudent and stay away from Azerbaijan until the peace agreement is signed and implemented.
Such “activists” would especially make sure to hurt Aronian, because of his status as top chess player.
Better to be prudent and stay away from Azerbaijan until the peace agreement is signed and implemented.