Armenia's Olympic Committee president will not attend the opening ceremony of the inaugural European Games in Baku on June 12.
Gagik Tsarukian is not expected to travel to Azerbaijan for the 16-day event amid tense relations between the neighbors.
The two countries are at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan.
European Olympic Committees President Patrick Hicke tried to play down Tsarukian's absence, saying the businessman was otherwise occupied.
Armenia has, however, decided to send athletes to participate in the European Games.
They are expected to get a cool reception during the opening ceremony later on June 12.
