YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. The unfair refereeing against Armenian wrestler Mihran Harutyunyan at the 31st Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro remains a subject of intense discussions. Lawyer Haykaz Makaryan and political scientist Stepan Safaryan referred to that issue in a press conference. According to Stepan Safaryan the gold medal was snatched not only from Mihran, but the entire Armenian nation and it is necessary to apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne with a demand to restore justice.

“As a citizen I think it is quite commendable when a small country manages to achieve such results, but the famous injustice shows that we could have achieved at least 2 gold medals. I have to repeat the words of the sports commentators who qualified the incident as an injustice. The gold medal was snatched not only from Mihran Harutyunyan, but the entire Armenian nation. Our Olympic delegation took no measures to change the situation. The Armenia's National Olympic Committee has to appeal the injustice against Mihran Harutyunyan”, “Armenpress” reports Stepan Safaryan saying.

Lawyer Haykaz Makaryan referred to the announcement of the head of the Russian wrestling federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, where he had mentioned Mihran would not participate in the Olympic Games if he had wished so. Haykaz Makaryan qualified this announcement as illegal.

“Occupying such a position, he has no right to make such an announcement. Article 23 of the Charter of the Olympic Committee states that an official has no right to make such an announcement. All these are in confrontation with humanitarianism and sports ethics. It is necessary to apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne demanding the release of the official”, Haykaz Makaryan said.

Armenia achieved 1 gold and 3 silver medals at the 31st Summer Olympic Games.