Gagik Sargsyan has resigned as President of the Armenian Ski Federation following weeks of tension with Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports sparked by an international controversy involving Armenian skier Mikayel Mikayelyan. Sargsyan announced his decision on Facebook on January 20, saying the move was difficult but inevitable amid what he described as a lack of state support and an unworkable environment for developing skiing in Armenia.
In his statement, Sargsyan said it is impossible to develop skiing relying solely on the efforts of the federation or its president, stressing that meaningful progress requires collective will and institutional backing. He said years of appeals, proposals, and complaints to the relevant state bodies have gone unanswered, leaving key issues unresolved.
Sargsyan accused the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of prolonged inaction, noting that as of January 20 the federation had still not received state funding. He said this has forced national competitions to rely on borrowed resources, led to postponed junior events, and left the fate of senior championships uncertain. According to Sargsyan, the lack of clarity has also prevented the federation from responding properly to international partners.
In a Facebook live address, Sargsyan reflected on his 21 years in Armenian skiing, noting that he became Secretary General of the federation in 2005 and was elected president in 2021. He said that despite achieving international results with minimal resources, he no longer sees a path forward under current conditions. He added that he believes his continued presence may have become an obstacle and said he decided to step aside to “free those people from my person.”
Sargsyan thanked his colleagues and athletes for standing with him over two decades, saying they worked to ensure Armenia had an honorable place on the world skiing map. He wished Armenia’s athletes success at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games and confirmed that he intends to continue his professional career abroad.
The resignation follows a high-profile incident involving Armenian cross-country skier Mikayel Mikayelyan during the Tour de Ski in Italy. On December 31, Mikayelyan covered the word “Azerbaijan” on his race suit before entering the start area, objecting to sponsor branding tied to a five-year partnership between the International Ski and Snowboard Federation and Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency. Competition organizers fined the athlete for altering official sponsor markings but did not disqualify him.
Sargsyan publicly backed Mikayelyan, stating that the Armenian Ski Federation would cover the fine and that the athlete’s action required no explanation. In January, he published correspondence with the ministry after officials requested clarification, responding that Armenian dignity “needs no clarification.” The ministry’s request was tied directly to Mikayelyan’s decision to cover the “Azerbaijan” inscription.
The ministry later reiterated its position that sport should remain outside of politics. Speaking at a press conference, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan said competitions must adhere to principles of fairness and integrity and stated that the federation would provide explanations before further steps were discussed.
Sargsyan’s resignation came shortly after those remarks and the formal exchange with the ministry.
Armenian athletes, including Mikayel Mikayelyan, alpine skier Gleb Movsesov, and two female skiers, are expected to compete at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which begin on February 7.
