U.S. Wrestler Galoust Torosian Calls for Review of 2026 Championship Host City Due to Safety Concerns
Galoust Gregory Torosian, an Armenian-American wrestler and U.S. Open champion, has urged United World Wrestling and USA Wrestling to reconsider Baku, Azerbaijan as the host city for the 2026 U17 World Championships, citing serious safety and human rights issues.
In a public statement, Torosian expressed concerns over the treatment of athletes of Christian Armenian descent in Azerbaijan. He highlighted the risks associated with representing their country in a region marked by historical tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
Torosian’s statement referenced the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in 2023 and the ongoing destruction of Armenian Christian heritage sites. He noted that Armenian detainees are currently held in Baku, raising further alarms about the safety of Armenian athletes. Torosian also pointed to past incidents, including that of footballer Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who opted out of traveling to Baku for the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final due to fears for his safety.
As a member of the U17 United States World Team, Torosian is calling on the wrestling community to prioritize the well-being of all athletes, urging USA Wrestling and UWW to ensure a safe environment for competition.