Armenia’s Weightlifting Federation Challenges the Authority of NOC President Gagik Tsarukyan in Court

The Weightlifting Federation of Armenia has initiated legal proceedings seeking to have the powers of Gagik Tsarukyan as President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (NOC) declared terminated. This was reported by the organization’s press service.

According to the federation’s statement, the term of office of the NOC president and members of the audit commission expired on September 9, 2025. The last elections of the governing bodies were held in September 2021, and the organization’s charter provides for a four-year term. Therefore, all decisions adopted after that date, in the plaintiffs’ view, cannot be considered legitimate.

The reason for the court appeal was a notice announcing the General Assembly of the NOC, scheduled for April 11, 2026. The federation claims that the preparation procedure for the meeting was accompanied by a number of violations. In particular, the agenda allegedly lacks specific information about the candidates and the bodies to be formed, which, according to the applicants, limits the right of NOC members to participate in the elections.

Separate concerns were raised regarding the work of the audit commission. The federation stated that not a single meeting had been held over the past year, despite the charter’s requirement for regular reviews of financial activities. This raises questions about the preparation of reports to be presented at the assembly.

The Weightlifting Federation emphasizes that it turned to the courts in order to challenge the legality of the current management processes and to ensure compliance with the charter provisions.

Amid the legal dispute, sporting life in the region continues: from April 19 to 26, the European Weightlifting Championships will be held in Batumi.

Additionally, earlier on April 11–12, the 2026 Gagik Tsarukyan Sambo World Cup took place in Yerevan. Sambo, it should be noted, is currently not included in the Olympic Games program.