HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT SHARES MORAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SPONSORING CRIMINAL ACT - FOREIGN MINISTRY
tert.am
01.09.12
Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement to the
Hungarian Government, expressing concerns over a decision to pardon
Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced to life in
prison for brutally killing Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan during
a NATO training in Budapest.
The full text of the statement is below:
"On 31 August, 2012 the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice
of Hungary has announced about its authorisation to transfer Ramil
Sahib Safarov, an Azerbaijani national imprisoned in Hungary since 19
February 2004, sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Gurgen
Margaryan, an Armenian national, to Azerbaijan. In adopting such
decision, the Ministry referred to the Strasburg Convention on the
Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
The transfer of Ramil Sahib Safarov has been executed without delay.
Furthermore, President of Azerbaijan has issued a decree granting
pardon to Ramil Sahib Safarov, who already enjoys freedom in
Azerbaijan.
Ramil Sahib Safarov has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the
Courts of Hungary for committing an act of murder against Gurgen
Margaryan, an Armenian national. Both Safarov and Margaryan were
visiting Budapest to participate in a NATO PfP language training
course. While the Government of Hungary as the host state, has failed
to ensure the security of the Armenian participant at an international
event on its territory, its law enforcement institutions and Courts
have acted promptly to bring the perpetrator to justice.
The Government of Hungary has been informed on numerous occasions by
the authorities of Armenia about the environment of glorification and
justification of the murderous act of Ramil Sahib Safarov, cultivated
in Azerbaijan at official level, including the level of President of
Azerbaijan. The Government of Hungary could not have failed to note the
numerous public statements of the Azerbaijani officials at different
levels to this effect, which should have been sufficient grounds for
the doubt about the continuation of the enforcement of the sentence in
Azerbaijan. Therefore, the Government of Hungary should have foreseen
the implications of its decision to transfer Ramil Sahib Safarov,
which effectively resulted in the termination of serving justice by
a perpetrator of a murderous act. The Government of Hungary therefore
shares moral responsibility for sponsoring a grave criminal act.
The Government of Hungary, at different levels, including the highest,
have consistently and up until the last moment assured the Government
of Armenia that it will not take any steps whatsoever, which would
result in the termination of serving justice by the perpetrator of a
heinous murder and explicitly excluded any option for the execution
of the transfer. The manner, in which the Government of Hungary has
acted in respect of this matter, is also a cause for a deep regret.
Armenia considers the above decision of the Government of Hungary
as an unfriendly act, undermining the good co-operative relations
between Armenia and Hungary. Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary about the
decision of the Government of Armenia to suspend diplomatic relations
between the two states."
From: A. Papazian
tert.am
01.09.12
Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement to the
Hungarian Government, expressing concerns over a decision to pardon
Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced to life in
prison for brutally killing Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan during
a NATO training in Budapest.
The full text of the statement is below:
"On 31 August, 2012 the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice
of Hungary has announced about its authorisation to transfer Ramil
Sahib Safarov, an Azerbaijani national imprisoned in Hungary since 19
February 2004, sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Gurgen
Margaryan, an Armenian national, to Azerbaijan. In adopting such
decision, the Ministry referred to the Strasburg Convention on the
Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
The transfer of Ramil Sahib Safarov has been executed without delay.
Furthermore, President of Azerbaijan has issued a decree granting
pardon to Ramil Sahib Safarov, who already enjoys freedom in
Azerbaijan.
Ramil Sahib Safarov has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the
Courts of Hungary for committing an act of murder against Gurgen
Margaryan, an Armenian national. Both Safarov and Margaryan were
visiting Budapest to participate in a NATO PfP language training
course. While the Government of Hungary as the host state, has failed
to ensure the security of the Armenian participant at an international
event on its territory, its law enforcement institutions and Courts
have acted promptly to bring the perpetrator to justice.
The Government of Hungary has been informed on numerous occasions by
the authorities of Armenia about the environment of glorification and
justification of the murderous act of Ramil Sahib Safarov, cultivated
in Azerbaijan at official level, including the level of President of
Azerbaijan. The Government of Hungary could not have failed to note the
numerous public statements of the Azerbaijani officials at different
levels to this effect, which should have been sufficient grounds for
the doubt about the continuation of the enforcement of the sentence in
Azerbaijan. Therefore, the Government of Hungary should have foreseen
the implications of its decision to transfer Ramil Sahib Safarov,
which effectively resulted in the termination of serving justice by
a perpetrator of a murderous act. The Government of Hungary therefore
shares moral responsibility for sponsoring a grave criminal act.
The Government of Hungary, at different levels, including the highest,
have consistently and up until the last moment assured the Government
of Armenia that it will not take any steps whatsoever, which would
result in the termination of serving justice by the perpetrator of a
heinous murder and explicitly excluded any option for the execution
of the transfer. The manner, in which the Government of Hungary has
acted in respect of this matter, is also a cause for a deep regret.
Armenia considers the above decision of the Government of Hungary
as an unfriendly act, undermining the good co-operative relations
between Armenia and Hungary. Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary about the
decision of the Government of Armenia to suspend diplomatic relations
between the two states."
From: A. Papazian