{"id":339959,"date":"2026-01-05T19:26:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T15:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meydan.tv\/article\/amnesty-az%c9%99rbaycan-idmandan-sui-istifad%c9%99-ed%c9%99r%c9%99k-cirkli-pullarin-yuyulmasina-nail-olur\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:43:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T12:43:27","slug":"amnesty-azerbaijan-is-using-sports-to-launder-dirty-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meydan.tv\/en\/article\/amnesty-azerbaijan-is-using-sports-to-launder-dirty-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Amnesty: Azerbaijan is using sports to launder dirty money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On New Year\u2019s Eve, during the third stage of the Tour de Ski, all athletes from both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams competed wearing uniforms sponsored with the name \u201cAzerbaijan.\u201d The country\u2019s advertising was also prominently displayed in large letters at the center of the stadium track and on the side panels in the finish area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tour de Ski is a prestigious, multi-stage international tournament in the cross-country skiing discipline. The World Cup stage of the tournament takes place between December 28 and January 4 in Val di Fiemme, Italy, and traditionally ends with a final uphill climbing stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo: FIS Cross Country \u2013 YouTube Video Screen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A partnership agreement has been signed<\/a> between the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) under the banner of developing winter tourism and winter sports, and enabling Azerbaijan to host prestigious international winter sports competitions. The contract was signed last May for a period of five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The financial value of this agreement has not been disclosed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the framework of this new partnership, it is emphasized<\/a> that FIS is expanding its activities internationally in cooperation with the Azerbaijan Tourism Board and representing Azerbaijan with the status of \u201cGlobal Destination Partner.\u201d The State Tourism Agency states that it aims to promote the development and global recognition of winter sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Konde Tangberg, political adviser at Amnesty International Norway, says<\/a> this is an operation of laundering dirty money through sports and using it for political purposes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAzerbaijan\u2019s state tourism agency sponsoring ski tournaments is, of course, purely about serving the political interests of those in power,\u201d <\/em>he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo: FIS Cross Country \u2013 YouTube Video Screen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to Amnesty International, Azerbaijan has long been criticized for human rights violations. More than 30 journalists are imprisoned in the country, and Amnesty says that independent organizations and media are not allowed to operate there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSuch agreements, while creating positive associations with a country, normalize and legitimize governments that aggressively suppress human rights and pursue climate-hostile policies,\u201d <\/em>Tangberg said regarding FIS\u2019s choice of sponsor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May, speaking to the press, the president of the Norwegian Ski Federation, Tove Moe Dyrhaug, expressed<\/a> dissatisfaction with the agreement between FIS and Azerbaijan, stating that it does not align with the values they stand for and emphasizing the need for greater transparency and better governance in international sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Norwegian newspaper contacted FIS, which has been criticized by Amnesty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an email response, FIS stated that, among other things, cooperation with the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency is a \u201ccrucial strategic step\u201d for expanding their reach to more parts of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incidentally, none of the 212 athletes competing in the Tour de Ski\u2014neither women nor men\u2014are from Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Foto:
Photo: FIS Cross Country \u2013 YouTube Video Screen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, one male athlete from Armenia, Mikael Mikaelyan, chose to remove the sponsor\u2019s name from his uniform so that it would not be visible. He was fined for violating the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Azerbaijan has previously used funds obtained from oil revenues to invest in football sponsorships through partnerships with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), one of Spain\u2019s biggest clubs Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, and one of Turkey\u2019s largest clubs, Galatasaray. The contract with Atl\u00e9tico Madrid cost \u20ac15.5 million<\/a>, and the one with Galatasaray \u20ac15 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country has also been hosting a Formula 1 World Championship race for several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On New Year\u2019s Eve, during the third stage of the … <\/p>\n

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