Armenian parliament speaker waives visit to Hungary

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan has waived his visit to Hungary.

According to the parliament’s press office, the decision was taken following the extradition of Armenian officer’s assassin Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan.

Lieutenant of the Armenian armed forces Gurgen Margaryan, 26, was hacked to death, while asleep, by lieutenant Safarov, in Budapest during a three-month English language course in the framework of NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace program.

On April 13, 2006, Budapest District Court sentenced Safarov to life in prison for murdering Margaryan. On February 22, 2007, Budapest Court rejected the Azerbaijani military officer's appeal against the verdict, precluding possibility of pardon for the initial 30 years.

However, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan, where he was granted a presidential pardon almost immediately after his arrival.