Tuesday, March 26 2019 15:09

ArmInfo.Three-time Olympic champion in figure skating, State Duma MP Irina Rodnina responded to the initiative of the members of the Yerevan Council of Elders to  rename the school of figure skating, named after her in connection  with her participation in the Baku anti- Armenian march on the 27th  anniversary of the events in Khojaly.

"This is not a school that bears my name, but a skating rink, which  was built at the expense of the Russian Federation - millions of  funds that came exclusively from Russia," she told the Moscow media.

According to the figure skater, this is the first sports facility  that was built on the territory of Armenia over the past twenty years  or more. She added that she would calmly react to the renaming, but  she would be hurt for people who "put their heart and soul" into the  construction. "It is their right, I did what I did. Call [the school]  whatever you like, for Christ's sake. As you call the ship, it will  sail," said Rodnina.

Touching on the participation in the commemorative events in Khojaly,  the Russian MP stressed that she took part in the march in memory of  those tragedies that were more than twenty years ago. "This does not  mean that it is against someone. We are not friends with anyone  against someone, " Rodnina explained.

The proposal to the Yerevan mayor's office was received from the  representative of the "Luys" faction of the Council of Elders of  Yerevan Ani Khachatryan.

Some mass media report that the founder of the school, the general  director of the Monarch group of companies, for whose money the  complex was built, philanthropist Sergey Hambartsumyan is  categorically against this initiative. "Yes, I am categorically  against renaming the school. The school was donated to Yerevan with  the name already given by Irina Rodnina, and this is a well-known  fact. Rodnina, despite statements unacceptable for me in Baku,  remains a legendary athlete, and I do not intend to forget her  merits, friendly relations and her sincere readiness to teach  Armenian children to their skills. At the same time, I gave Irina  Konstantinovna materials about the historical events she touched in  Baku and I hope I brought the truth about them to her, "  Hambartsumyan said