Four Hungarian intellectuals (historian, political analyst Zoltán Biro, rector of the John Wesley Theological College Gábor Iványi, journalist/publicist Gabor Deak and writer Rudolf Ungváry) have arrived in Armenia to apologize for the extradition of Azerbaijani criminal Ramil Safarov.

“We organized the journey to inform of most of Hungarian people’s disagreement, and our discontent with the authorities’ decision to transfer a sleeping officer’s assassin back to his homeland. Though most Hungarians negatively reacted to what happened, not all of them were able to fully express their standpoint,” Gabor Deak told a press conference in Yerevan.

“We have come to express our regret and shame. Hungary didn’t even officially recognize the Armenian Genocide as the country was in need of Turkish support then. As for the prime minister having allowed for the extradition, he would have resigned his post,” Mr. Iványi said.

Dwelling on the suspension of diplomatic relations with Hungary and Armenia’s tough policy on the issue, the intellectuals said they acknowledged that the measures were taken against the authorities, rather than the people.