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REACTION TO SAFAROV RELEASE: HUNGARY SAYS AZERIS RENEGED ON PROMISE
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
03.09.12
An image of axe-murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan (archive
photo)
Heated discussions blaze among Armenians on various levels condemning
the extradition to Azerbaijan, pardoning, and promotion in military
rank of the Azeri soldier who murdered an Armenian soldier 8 years
ago during a "Partnership for Peace" seminar in Budapest.
Enlarge Photo Benedek Zsigmond
Ramil Safarov was found guilty of premeditated murder and was sentenced
to life in prison in April 2006, after confessing to brutally hacking
to death 26-year-old Armenian Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan while the
Armenian slept in his dormitory room. Margaryan and Safarov were in
Hungary for a NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace English language
courses in February of 2004. The Azeri president pardoned Safarov a
day after his return to the country on August 31.
The murderer was hailed as a "national hero," was awarded the rank
of major, and was provided with an apartment and salary due for more
than eight years.
Meanwhile, the Hungarian government has issued a statement essentially
saying that Baku is guilty of violating international law, and that
Hungry had received assurances from Azeri officials that Safarov
would not be eligible for parole for at least the next 17 years. A
copy of communication from August 15 by the Azeri foreign ministry
affirms that such promises were made.
The same day of Safarov's extradition, Armenia's President Serzh
Sargsyan severed diplomatic ties with Hungary, recalling the Armenian
ambassador.
Saturday, September 1, saw civil protests in front of the Armenian
foreign ministry and Hungarian Consulate in Yerevan.
A Hungarian Armenologist of Armenian descent Benedek Zsigmond
speculated during a Monday meeting with the press that Hungary is in
a huge economic crisis and Azerbaijan has committed to cover Hungary's
3-billion-euro debt.
"The deal hasn't even happened yet. Hungary was well aware of the
perils of Safarov's extradition. They knew he would be released,
that's why it had demanded guarantees and the Azeri Defense Ministry
had promised that Safarov would continue serving his term in Baku,"
said Zsigmond.
Hungarian citizens have created a group on Facebook titled "Armenia,
forgive us for our Prime Minister", earning the support of more than
9,000 people in two days.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin's press service reports that
Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate
of Hungary, has sent a letter to Catholicos of All Armenians His
Holiness Karekin II voicing support to the Armenian people over the
extradition and release of Azeri assassin.
Some Hungarian mass media report that on Sunday the Hungarian foreign
minister met with the Azeri Ambassador in Budapest and gave him a
diplomatic note stating that Hungary condemns Azerbaijan's actions
of pardon and awards to Safarov.
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
03.09.12
An image of axe-murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan (archive
photo)
Heated discussions blaze among Armenians on various levels condemning
the extradition to Azerbaijan, pardoning, and promotion in military
rank of the Azeri soldier who murdered an Armenian soldier 8 years
ago during a "Partnership for Peace" seminar in Budapest.
Enlarge Photo Benedek Zsigmond
Ramil Safarov was found guilty of premeditated murder and was sentenced
to life in prison in April 2006, after confessing to brutally hacking
to death 26-year-old Armenian Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan while the
Armenian slept in his dormitory room. Margaryan and Safarov were in
Hungary for a NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace English language
courses in February of 2004. The Azeri president pardoned Safarov a
day after his return to the country on August 31.
The murderer was hailed as a "national hero," was awarded the rank
of major, and was provided with an apartment and salary due for more
than eight years.
Meanwhile, the Hungarian government has issued a statement essentially
saying that Baku is guilty of violating international law, and that
Hungry had received assurances from Azeri officials that Safarov
would not be eligible for parole for at least the next 17 years. A
copy of communication from August 15 by the Azeri foreign ministry
affirms that such promises were made.
The same day of Safarov's extradition, Armenia's President Serzh
Sargsyan severed diplomatic ties with Hungary, recalling the Armenian
ambassador.
Saturday, September 1, saw civil protests in front of the Armenian
foreign ministry and Hungarian Consulate in Yerevan.
A Hungarian Armenologist of Armenian descent Benedek Zsigmond
speculated during a Monday meeting with the press that Hungary is in
a huge economic crisis and Azerbaijan has committed to cover Hungary's
3-billion-euro debt.
"The deal hasn't even happened yet. Hungary was well aware of the
perils of Safarov's extradition. They knew he would be released,
that's why it had demanded guarantees and the Azeri Defense Ministry
had promised that Safarov would continue serving his term in Baku,"
said Zsigmond.
Hungarian citizens have created a group on Facebook titled "Armenia,
forgive us for our Prime Minister", earning the support of more than
9,000 people in two days.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin's press service reports that
Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate
of Hungary, has sent a letter to Catholicos of All Armenians His
Holiness Karekin II voicing support to the Armenian people over the
extradition and release of Azeri assassin.
Some Hungarian mass media report that on Sunday the Hungarian foreign
minister met with the Azeri Ambassador in Budapest and gave him a
diplomatic note stating that Hungary condemns Azerbaijan's actions
of pardon and awards to Safarov.