Pro-Armenia Messages at Australian Open Prompt Azerbaijan to Demand Sanctions

Azerbaijan’s tennis federation is calling for sanctions against Russian player Karen Khachanov following his public support for the Armenian-majority population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region during the Australian Open.

Khachanov, who has Armenian heritage, has been writing “Artsakh stay strong” on TV cameras after his matches in Melbourne. Artsakh is the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region within Azerbaijani borders that has been the center of ongoing conflict.

The region saw serious fight in the early 1990s when Armenian forces seized control, and after intermittent clashes, a major conflict erupted in 2020. Azerbaijan regained control over much of the disputed territory during a brutal six-week war that resulted in at least 6,500 deaths, according to Reuters. The conflict concluded with a ceasefire brokered by Russia.

The Azerbaijani Tennis Federation’s letter to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), dated January 21, demands that Khachanov face penalties for his support of Nagorno-Karabakh. The federation seeks to prevent further “unacceptable provocations” from Khachanov at tennis events.

The ITF confirmed receipt of the letter and stated that it has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities. They also noted that player conduct at Grand Slam events is governed by the rules set out in the Grand Slam rulebook, which is administered by the event organizers.

Khachanov, after his quarterfinal win over Sebastian Korda, mentioned his Armenian roots but chose not to delve deeply into the political implications of his actions. “I have Armenian roots from both sides of my family. I just wanted to show support for my people,” he said.

As of now, Khachanov has not commented on the letter from the Azerbaijani federation, and CNN’s attempts to reach his representatives or Tennis Australia for a response have been unsuccessful.

Khachanov, who represents Russia but is competing under a neutral flag in Melbourne due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is scheduled to play against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday in a bid to reach his first Grand Slam final.