French Authorities Intend to Deport Armenian Champion and his Family

French authorities might deport Armenian national Gor Abrahamyan, 17, winner of the junior national wrestling championship, and his family (brother, younger sister and parents).

Gor’s family moved to the French city of Grasse from Armenia after the events of March 2008. Gor today aspires only for one thing: to wear the colors of France, representing the country in sports, reports Nouvelles d’Arménie.

Gor is considered one of France’s most well-known athletes, a double Olympics champion, a judoist “à la David Douillet.” Gor’s coaches and trainers pin great hopes on him, even seeing him compete in the 2016 Olympics; however, the French authorities intend on depriving Gor from the chance of representing France.

French authorities had already issued a notice to the Abrahamyan family in June last year, informing them that they had to leave the country. They were informed that the application for political asylum by Gor’s father, previously a baker turned furniture maker in France, had been denied.

The Abrahamyans’ case was raised during a Nice Administrative Court session on Friday, and a decision to deport was made; however, the decision will be put into force in two weeks. Until then, the Abrahamyans’ have the right to appeal, which the court advised them to do.

According to Nouvelles d’Arménie, Gor has the sympathy of local residents; however, “the law remains the law.”

Note that, in June last year, students and teachers from Gor’s school in Grasse demonstrated against the deportation. “But we must not forget that people are sovereign in this country,” said the Abrahamyans’ attorney.