The President of the Russian Federation pushed and called the Albanian athlete a traitor

Other sports

Express newspaper

10/04/2025 14:09

Albania has been declared champion in wrestling at the European Championship being held in Bratislava, Slovenia.

Chermen Valiev, who was declared European champion and waved the Albanian flag, has faced a scandal.

The President of the Russian Wrestling Federation and Vice-President of the World Wrestling Federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, at the moment of handing over the Gold medal to Chermen Valiev, as European champion for Albania, pushed the athlete with his hands, while also calling him a traitor, Albanian media write.

"The sport of wrestling has been involved in a real scandal during the medal ceremony at the European Championships held in Bratislava, Slovakia. The President of the Russian Wrestling Federation and Vice-President of the World Wrestling Federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, at the moment of presenting the Gold medal to Chermen Valiev, as European Champion for Albania, made a scandalous gesture, exerting force while placing the medal around his neck and then pushing it with his hands. During this moment, the word 'traitor' was also heard for Chermen Valiev, who chose to compete for Albania," the Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH) wrote in a post.

Recall that Valiev was declared European champion in the 74 kg freestyle weight category.

In this way, he becomes the first Olympic medalist in the history of Albania.

The wrestler won 4-2 over Russian Zaurbek Sidakov, with the latter competing under a neutral flag due to Russia's suspension.