Hungary must demand Azeri assassin Safarov’s return, Slovak politician says

September 4, 2012 - 16:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -

The first chairman of Slovakian National Council František Mikloško commented on recent extradition and release of Azeri criminal Ramil Safarov, given a life sentence in Hungary over the murder of an Armenian lieutenant.

“It is unfortunate that Hungarian government of today agreed to trade justice for petrodollars in extraditing the criminal to Azerbaijan, where he was granted pardon and hailed as a national hero,” The Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe cited Mikloško as saying.

“I believe it’s not too late for Hungary to partially redress its mistake by demanding that Safarov is returned to be put back to Hungarian prison. The government of Armenia suspended diplomatic ties with Hungary, whose actions may undermine the progress in Karabakh settlement.”

“It’s crucial for Hungary to demand the return of Safarov over non-compliance with the agreement,” Miklosko said, urging European states to recognize Karabakh independence to prevent recurrence of such crimes in future.

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.

On February 22, 2007, Budapest Court rejected the Azerbaijani military officer's appeal against a life sentence. The appeal court ruled that the decision brought by Budapest District Court against 30-year-old Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, should stand.

On August 31, 2012, Hungary extradited Safarov back to Azerbaijan, where he was promptly pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev.