MENENDEZ CONDEMNS PRESIDENT ALIYEV'S RELEASE OF AXE MURDERER
Congressional Documents and Publications
September 6, 2012
Calls on Aliyev to Apologize and for the International Community to
Demand Safarov's Return to Hungary to Complete his Life Sentence;
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) News Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, a member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, today released a statement decrying the
release of convicted axe murderer Ramil Safarov and condemning Azeri
President Aliyev's decision to pardon, promote, and glorify Safarov
for his heinous murder of Armenian Gurgen Markarian. On August 31,
Hungary extradited Safarov -- who brutally murdered his colleague,
Armenian officer Gurgen Markarian, in his sleep - to Baku to serve
no less than 25 years of the life sentence imposed by the Hungarian
justice system.
"I am aghast at the decision of President Aliyev to pardon Ramil
Safarov for his heinous crime. I am outraged and disgusted by the
reception that Safarov was given upon returning to Azerbaijan -
a hero's welcome, a free apartment and a promotion. This blatant
disregard for justice is unacceptable and I condemn Aliyev's actions
in the strongest way possible. I am also troubled by Hungary's decision
to extradite Safarov and believe that, given the breach of extradition
agreement, Hungary must now demand the return of Safarov to complete
his life-sentence," Menendez commented.
"At this moment, with relations in the Caucasus region as tense as
ever, the highly deplorable actions of President Aliyev undermine
the credibility of his government and his commitment to work toward a
peaceful resolution of differences with Armenia. I call on President
Aliyev to apologize to the family of Gurgen Markarian and for the
international community to demand Safarov's return to Hungary to
complete the remainder of his life sentence. It is clear that the
Azeri government cannot be counted on to adhere to its international
or bilateral obligations with respect to this matter."
Read this original document at:
http://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=06e1f7d4-2c1a-4513-a084-acd34cd2cc4a
From: A. Papazian
Congressional Documents and Publications
September 6, 2012
Calls on Aliyev to Apologize and for the International Community to
Demand Safarov's Return to Hungary to Complete his Life Sentence;
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) News Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, a member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, today released a statement decrying the
release of convicted axe murderer Ramil Safarov and condemning Azeri
President Aliyev's decision to pardon, promote, and glorify Safarov
for his heinous murder of Armenian Gurgen Markarian. On August 31,
Hungary extradited Safarov -- who brutally murdered his colleague,
Armenian officer Gurgen Markarian, in his sleep - to Baku to serve
no less than 25 years of the life sentence imposed by the Hungarian
justice system.
"I am aghast at the decision of President Aliyev to pardon Ramil
Safarov for his heinous crime. I am outraged and disgusted by the
reception that Safarov was given upon returning to Azerbaijan -
a hero's welcome, a free apartment and a promotion. This blatant
disregard for justice is unacceptable and I condemn Aliyev's actions
in the strongest way possible. I am also troubled by Hungary's decision
to extradite Safarov and believe that, given the breach of extradition
agreement, Hungary must now demand the return of Safarov to complete
his life-sentence," Menendez commented.
"At this moment, with relations in the Caucasus region as tense as
ever, the highly deplorable actions of President Aliyev undermine
the credibility of his government and his commitment to work toward a
peaceful resolution of differences with Armenia. I call on President
Aliyev to apologize to the family of Gurgen Markarian and for the
international community to demand Safarov's return to Hungary to
complete the remainder of his life sentence. It is clear that the
Azeri government cannot be counted on to adhere to its international
or bilateral obligations with respect to this matter."
Read this original document at:
http://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=06e1f7d4-2c1a-4513-a084-acd34cd2cc4a
From: A. Papazian