The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has informed Hetq it is aware of the situation involving the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (NOCA) and has been in contact with the NOCA to carefully review all relevant elements and explore appropriate solutions to protect the NOCA as an institution and safeguard the interests of the Olympic Movement and the athletes in the country.

It should be noted that, as part of the criminal case against businessman and NOCA President Gagik Tsarukyan, law enforcement agencies closed not only the premises of companies he owns but also the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, effectively halting NOCA’s operations. The same action was taken against the Olimpavan sports complex that belongs to Tsarukyan.

In addition, on April 9, the Weightlifting Federation of Armenia, whose president is the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Arayik Harutyunyan, filed a lawsuit against the NOCA at the Yerevan Civil Court, demanding that the powers of NOCA President Gagik Tsarukyan and members of the NOCA Audit Commission be recognized as terminated as of September 9, 2025 and, as a result, all decisions and actions taken by the Audit Commission after September 9, 2025 be recognized as invalid. On April 10, Judge Anushavan Musheghyan accepted the lawsuit for proceedings.

The Olympic Charter clearly states that “the NOCs must preserve their autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not limited to political, legal, religious or economic pressures which may prevent them from complying with the Olympic Charter.”

Sanctions may be imposed on National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in case of violation of the Olympic Charter.

Specifically, the IOC Executive Board may suspend a NOC’s membership, determining the consequences for both the NOC and its athletes.

Another of the sanctions is the withdrawal of provisional recognition of a NOC by the IOC Executive Board.

The third is the withdrawal of full recognition of a NOC, which the IOC Session can do. In such a case, the NOC forfeits
all rights conferred upon it in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

The fourth sanction is the withdrawal of the right to organise a Session or an Olympic Congress.

The IOC did not respond to Hetq’s question as to whether the International Olympic Committee is currently considering imposing any provisional measures or sanctions against the NOC, given the current situation.