Tweet
U.S.BASED YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN HATE-DRIVEN ACTIONS OF AZERI GOVT.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2012 - 11:31 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A number of U.S.-based youth organizations, including
the Armenian Youth Federation, the Unified Young Armenians, the
SDHP Gaidz Youth Organization, the All-ASA and the ARF Shant Student
Association have joined forces to protest against the extradition and
pardoning of an Azerbaijani soldier responsible for brutally murdering
an Armenian military officer 8 years ago during NATO military exercises
in Hungary.
"We express our outrage with the immoral and irresponsible decision
of the Hungarian Government to extradite a cold-blooded murderer,
Ramil Safarov, responsible for the axing of an Armenian Army
lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest on February 19, 2004 during
the Partnership for Peace NATO Conference. We strongly condemn
the hate-driven actions of the Azeri Government, which not only
pardoned this criminal but also gave him a hero's welcome. In 2006,
the Hungarian court found Safarov guilty of murdering Lt. Margaryan and
sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
His release, justified by the Hungarian Government by references to
the 1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons,
has allowed the murderer to escape just punishment and instead be
treated as a national hero in Azerbaijan," the organizations said in
a statement.
"Officials in Budapest could not have been unaware of the fact that
the above mentioned Convention contains a clause which allows the
receiving country to issue pardons to transferred prisoners. Given
the circumstances, it becomes obvious that the Hungarian Government
has chosen to disregard morality and justice in exchange for Azeri
petrodollars and the friendly disposition of the corrupt Aliyev
regime. This decision is even more deplorable due to the fact that
despite the assurances from Azerbaijan that Safarov's sentence would
not be commuted, the brutal criminal was immediately pardoned by
President Aliyev and was greeted as a national hero upon his return
to Baku. Once again, we have witnessed the lionization of those
who preach hatred towards Armenians, which is consistent with the
antagonistic and xenophobic policies of the Government of Azerbaijan."
"We condemn these actions of both the Government of Hungary and the
corrupt regime in Baku. We urge the international community to join
us in demanding an apology from the Hungarian Government and asking
for the rescission of their immoral decision on extradition. From the
Azeri Government, we demand a reversal of the pardon and an immediate
imprisonment of Ramil Safarov," the statement concludes.
The protest will take place in front of the Azeri and Hungarian
Consulates in Los Angeles on Sept 6.
From: Baghdasarian
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2012 - 11:31 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A number of U.S.-based youth organizations, including
the Armenian Youth Federation, the Unified Young Armenians, the
SDHP Gaidz Youth Organization, the All-ASA and the ARF Shant Student
Association have joined forces to protest against the extradition and
pardoning of an Azerbaijani soldier responsible for brutally murdering
an Armenian military officer 8 years ago during NATO military exercises
in Hungary.
"We express our outrage with the immoral and irresponsible decision
of the Hungarian Government to extradite a cold-blooded murderer,
Ramil Safarov, responsible for the axing of an Armenian Army
lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest on February 19, 2004 during
the Partnership for Peace NATO Conference. We strongly condemn
the hate-driven actions of the Azeri Government, which not only
pardoned this criminal but also gave him a hero's welcome. In 2006,
the Hungarian court found Safarov guilty of murdering Lt. Margaryan and
sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
His release, justified by the Hungarian Government by references to
the 1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons,
has allowed the murderer to escape just punishment and instead be
treated as a national hero in Azerbaijan," the organizations said in
a statement.
"Officials in Budapest could not have been unaware of the fact that
the above mentioned Convention contains a clause which allows the
receiving country to issue pardons to transferred prisoners. Given
the circumstances, it becomes obvious that the Hungarian Government
has chosen to disregard morality and justice in exchange for Azeri
petrodollars and the friendly disposition of the corrupt Aliyev
regime. This decision is even more deplorable due to the fact that
despite the assurances from Azerbaijan that Safarov's sentence would
not be commuted, the brutal criminal was immediately pardoned by
President Aliyev and was greeted as a national hero upon his return
to Baku. Once again, we have witnessed the lionization of those
who preach hatred towards Armenians, which is consistent with the
antagonistic and xenophobic policies of the Government of Azerbaijan."
"We condemn these actions of both the Government of Hungary and the
corrupt regime in Baku. We urge the international community to join
us in demanding an apology from the Hungarian Government and asking
for the rescission of their immoral decision on extradition. From the
Azeri Government, we demand a reversal of the pardon and an immediate
imprisonment of Ramil Safarov," the statement concludes.
The protest will take place in front of the Azeri and Hungarian
Consulates in Los Angeles on Sept 6.
From: Baghdasarian