SCTO chief: Azerbaijan pardoning of Safarov inexcusableSeptember 3, 2012 - 16:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Azeri authorities' decision to pardon the killer of an Armenian officer, who has been extradited by Hungary, will call into question the efficiency of the interstate crime suppression system, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General said, according to Interfax. "The step, which obviously served current political goals, is inexcusable. Moreover, heroization of the criminal will add to the already high regional tensions," Nikolai Bordyuzha told reporters on Monday, September 3. The decision of Azeri authorities to pardon the killer of the Armenian officer transferred from Hungary "disagrees with international legal norms and calls into question the efficiency of the interstate crime suppression system," he said. "The international community will promptly give an objective evaluation to this case," he said. Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan, was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary. Gurgen Margaryan On February 19, 2004, Lieutenant of the Armenian Armed Forces Gurgen Margaryan, 26, was hacked to death, while asleep, by a fellow Azerbaijani participant, lieutenant Ramil Safarov, in Budapest during a three-month English language course in the framework of Partnership for Peace NATO-sponsored program. In accordance with Budapest District Court sentence dated April 13, 2006, Ramil Safarov was life imprisoned for murdering the Armenian officer. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. India wants Armenia’s proposals on use of Chabahar port India is expecting proposals from Armenia regarding the use of Chabahar port in Iran, Indian ambassador says. Mkhitaryan raises arrest of former Karabakh leaders in Azerbaijan Inter Milan star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shared a news story about the extension of the arrest of former Karabakh leaders. Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. |