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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: AZERBAIJANI GOVERNMENT SENDS DANGEROUS MESSAGE ON ETHNICALLY-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE
armradio.am
06.09.2012 18:17
Amnesty International is concerned that the actions of the Azerbaijani
government following the extradition of Armed Forces Lieutenant Ramil
Safarov will be perceived as an endorsement of ethnically-motivated
violence.
The organization is concerned that these actions will ignite existing
tensions between Azerbaijanis and Armenians and encourage further
ethnically-motivated violence. It called on the governments of both
countries to publicly condemn violence based on ethnicity.
"Safarov, who by his own admission all but decapitated another man
in part because he was Armenian, was pardoned and then promoted to
Major by President Aliyev following his release from prison on Friday.
By pardoning and then promoting Ramil Safarov, President Aliyev has
signaled to Azerbaijanis that violence against Armenians is not only
acceptable, but rewarded.
The Azerbaijani government should rescind any privileges awarded to
Safarov and publicly condemn ethnic violence. The Armenian government
must also make clear that retaliation against ethnic Azerbaijanis is
not acceptable," the Amnesty International said in a statement.
Safarov was sentenced to life in prison by a Budapest Court in 2006
for murdering Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan.
The two were attending a NATO English language course in Hungary
in February 2004 when Safarov broke into Margaryan's dormitory and
attacked him with an axe as he slept, inflicting 16 blows to the head
and neck which almost severed Margaryan's head.
Safarov admitted to the murder, claiming that Margaryan had insulted
his country's flag. The court found no evidence to support this claim.
He said he was sorry he had not had the opportunity to kill any
Armenians earlier.
On Friday 31 August, the Hungarian government allowed Safarov to be
extradited back to Azerbaijan, claiming to have received assurances
that he would serve the remainder of his sentence.
On his arrival in Baku, Safarov was pardoned, promoted to Major,
given back pay for the eight years he had spent in prison and awarded
a house.
From: Baghdasarian
armradio.am
06.09.2012 18:17
Amnesty International is concerned that the actions of the Azerbaijani
government following the extradition of Armed Forces Lieutenant Ramil
Safarov will be perceived as an endorsement of ethnically-motivated
violence.
The organization is concerned that these actions will ignite existing
tensions between Azerbaijanis and Armenians and encourage further
ethnically-motivated violence. It called on the governments of both
countries to publicly condemn violence based on ethnicity.
"Safarov, who by his own admission all but decapitated another man
in part because he was Armenian, was pardoned and then promoted to
Major by President Aliyev following his release from prison on Friday.
By pardoning and then promoting Ramil Safarov, President Aliyev has
signaled to Azerbaijanis that violence against Armenians is not only
acceptable, but rewarded.
The Azerbaijani government should rescind any privileges awarded to
Safarov and publicly condemn ethnic violence. The Armenian government
must also make clear that retaliation against ethnic Azerbaijanis is
not acceptable," the Amnesty International said in a statement.
Safarov was sentenced to life in prison by a Budapest Court in 2006
for murdering Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan.
The two were attending a NATO English language course in Hungary
in February 2004 when Safarov broke into Margaryan's dormitory and
attacked him with an axe as he slept, inflicting 16 blows to the head
and neck which almost severed Margaryan's head.
Safarov admitted to the murder, claiming that Margaryan had insulted
his country's flag. The court found no evidence to support this claim.
He said he was sorry he had not had the opportunity to kill any
Armenians earlier.
On Friday 31 August, the Hungarian government allowed Safarov to be
extradited back to Azerbaijan, claiming to have received assurances
that he would serve the remainder of his sentence.
On his arrival in Baku, Safarov was pardoned, promoted to Major,
given back pay for the eight years he had spent in prison and awarded
a house.
From: Baghdasarian