Azerbaijan initiates criminal case on flag burning incident in Armenia

The Azerbaijani flag was defiantly burned at the opening ceremony of the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships in Armenia’s capital Yerevan on the basis of national, and ethnic enmity and hatred on April 14.

The Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General's Office initiated a criminal case under Articles 12.2, 283.2. “Inciting national hatred and enmity, using official position”) and 12.2, 324 (“Actions insulting the Azerbaijani flag”) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office told Caliber.Az.

The appeals were sent to the corresponding departments of international organisations to bring Aram Nikolyan and others who were involved in this incident to judicial responsibility (national and international).

Cooperation with international organisations will be ensured.

The public will be provided with detailed information on the investigation process.

During the solemn ceremony of the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan, Aram Nikolyan snatched the Azerbaijani flag from the flag-bearer and set it on fire, after which he fled the stage with it.