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RELEASE, PARDON OF ARMENIAN OFFICER'S KILLER HARMFUL FOR KARABAKH TALKS - YEREVAN
Interfax
Sept 3 2012
Russia
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian discussed the release
and pardon of the Armenian officer's killer with the intermediaries
of the OSCE Minsk Group settling the Karabakh conflict.
"The only item on the agenda of Nalbandian's meeting with the
intermediaries was the Azeri-Hungarian deal on the release of Ramil
Safarov, which had a negative effect not only on the negotiations
but also on regional stability and security," the Armenian Foreign
Ministry told Interfax on Sunday.
It was reported earlier that Azeri army officer Ramil Safarov killed
Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margarian with an axe in his sleep
in Budapest on February 19, 2004. Both officers attended an English
language course under NATO's Partnership for Peace program in Hungary.
A Budapest court sentenced Safarov to life without the right to parole
during the first 30 years of his imprisonment on April 13, 2006.
However, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31, 2012.
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev immediately pardoned Safarov, promoted
him to major, gave him keys to a new apartment and paid allowance
for 8.5 years.
Azerbaijan "flagrantly breaches international laws, international
conventions and agreements," Nalbandian said.
Yerevan said earlier that it would break up diplomatic relations with
Hungary over the incident.
In turn, the Hungarian Justice Ministry said Safarov was extradited
to Azerbaijan pursuant to the Strasbourg Convention on Extradition
signed in 1983.
The Hungarian extradition of the Azeri officer does not conflict with
international legal norms, Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman
Abdullayev said.
The U.S. demanded Hungarian explanations of the transfer of Safarov
to Azerbaijan on August 31. U.S. National Security Council press
secretary Tommy Vietor expressed concern over his pardon.
Interfax
Sept 3 2012
Russia
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian discussed the release
and pardon of the Armenian officer's killer with the intermediaries
of the OSCE Minsk Group settling the Karabakh conflict.
"The only item on the agenda of Nalbandian's meeting with the
intermediaries was the Azeri-Hungarian deal on the release of Ramil
Safarov, which had a negative effect not only on the negotiations
but also on regional stability and security," the Armenian Foreign
Ministry told Interfax on Sunday.
It was reported earlier that Azeri army officer Ramil Safarov killed
Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margarian with an axe in his sleep
in Budapest on February 19, 2004. Both officers attended an English
language course under NATO's Partnership for Peace program in Hungary.
A Budapest court sentenced Safarov to life without the right to parole
during the first 30 years of his imprisonment on April 13, 2006.
However, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31, 2012.
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev immediately pardoned Safarov, promoted
him to major, gave him keys to a new apartment and paid allowance
for 8.5 years.
Azerbaijan "flagrantly breaches international laws, international
conventions and agreements," Nalbandian said.
Yerevan said earlier that it would break up diplomatic relations with
Hungary over the incident.
In turn, the Hungarian Justice Ministry said Safarov was extradited
to Azerbaijan pursuant to the Strasbourg Convention on Extradition
signed in 1983.
The Hungarian extradition of the Azeri officer does not conflict with
international legal norms, Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman
Abdullayev said.
The U.S. demanded Hungarian explanations of the transfer of Safarov
to Azerbaijan on August 31. U.S. National Security Council press
secretary Tommy Vietor expressed concern over his pardon.