Russian boxers urge President of Armenia to release Samson Khachatryan

Leaders of the Boxing Federation of Russia and a number of famous Russian boxers have addressed President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan for his help in releasing an opposition activist Samson Khachatryan, five times the USSR champion, twice the European champion and prize-winner of the World Cup in boxing, from custody.

Today, the Armenian press has published a letter from Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR Evgeniy Sudakov, Director of the Boxing Federation of Russia, and Alexander Lebzyak, an Olympic Champion, to President Serzh Sargsyan.

"The arrest of the famous boxer, who enjoys great respect among athletes, has deeply shocked and distressed the entire world of sports. Knowing Samson Khachatryan quite well as a decent and law-abiding citizen, we are confident that he was no able to do anything illegal. We are sure that you are also not indifferent to the fate of the famous athlete, who had more than once glorified Armenia by his bright victories, we hereby urge you - on behalf of the Russian Boxing Federation - to interfere directly and instruct as to immediate release of Samson Khachatryan," Russian boxers write in their letter to the President of Armenia.

The appeal to Serzh Sargsyan is also signed by Evgeniy Makarenko, a multiple European Champion and now the senior coach of Russia's boxing team; Sergey Vodopyanov, a World Cup winner in boxing and multiple European Champion; Menshikov, the Russia's youth team coach, and others.