In the past armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, among those taken prisoner was a young Armenian judoka, the 19-year-old Robert Vardanyan. Following a call for help from the Armenian Judo Federation, President Marius Vizer reacted promptly and without hesitation.

The International Judo Federation is happy to announce that the young judoka has now returned home to his family safely, due to the generosity of His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan.

We would like to express our deep gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijan judo family.

Once again, judo proved to be an incredible tool against war and conflict situations and the release of the young judoka is proof of the power and high moral values that our sport is carrying, surpassing conflict and animosity. The solidarity and the unity of the international judo family has no borders and we are all united by the common goal of mutual aid and prosperity.

See also
Judo for Peace
Building Peace and Connection Through Sport

11. Nov. 2025 / From 24th October to 2nd November 2025, Judo for Peace ...

Interview
Karen Roberts: Always Seeking New Ways to Learn

11. Nov. 2025 / Karen Roberts Castle (GBR) was junior world champion ...

Islamic Games 2025
Azerbaijan Crowned Mixed Team Champions

10. Nov. 2025 / The third and final day of the judo competition at ...

Kata Paris 2025
Final Day Brings Grace, Discipline and Mastery

09. Nov. 2025 / The second and final day of competition at the 2025 ...

Islamic Games 2025
Day Two Highlights From the Islamic Solidarity Games

09. Nov. 2025 / The second day of the judo competition at the Islamic ...

IBSA Judo
2025 IBSA Judo Asian Team Championships Results

09. Nov. 2025 / The small number of teams involved in the 2025 IBSA ...

Kata Paris 2025
Paris 2025 Closes in Spirit of Legacy

09. Nov. 2025 / As the 2025 World Kata Championships draws to a close ...

Kata Paris 2025
Itsutsu-no-Kata, the Kata of the Universe

09. Nov. 2025 / For the first time, Itsutsu-no-kata appears on the ...

IBSA Judo
In Thailand, Discipline and Kindness is the Perfect Combination

09. Nov. 2025 / At the IBSA Judo Asian Championships in Astana there ...

IBSA Judo
Measuring Success by Impact and Legacy in Kazakhstan

09. Nov. 2025 / Rauan Satzhanov is the Secretary General of the Paralympic ...

Kata Paris 2025
A Day of Precision

08. Nov. 2025 / After five days of rare intensity during the Paris ...

Islamic Games 2025
Judo Energises at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games

08. Nov. 2025 / The 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games are in full swing ...

Kata Paris 2025
Where Movement Becomes Memory

08. Nov. 2025 / Where Movement Becomes Memory

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...