Azerbaijani president invites Turkish weightlifters Bektas and Altun to visit Baku

MOSCOW (AA) - President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday invited Turkish weightlifters Cansu Bektas and Gamze Altun to visit Baku. The two dedicated their medals won at the European Weightlifting Championships to Azerbaijanis.

"They won this great victory in Armenia, a state that is an arch-enemy of both Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and raised the Turkish flag high. The Armenians burned our flag, but the Turkish flag flew there," Aliyev said in a statement.

"They dedicated this victory to Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people. What a beautiful move. That is why they have won the love of all Azerbaijani people," he added.

The president said that the Turkish athletes "once again showed that the Turkish-Azerbaijani unity and brotherhood are unshakeable."

The weightlifting competition is taking place on April 15-23 in Yerevan.

The Azerbaijani delegation withdrew from the event after the country's flag was burned at the opening ceremony.

Bektas on Saturday won three European junior record-breaking gold medals in the tournament. She broke three European junior records with 72 kg in the snatch, 90 kg in the clean and jerk, and 162 kg in total.

Her compatriot Altun won the silver medal with 89 kg in clean and jerk.