KREKORIAN: IN AZERBAIJAN, MURDER OF ARMENIANS IS 'ENCOURAGED, CELEBRATED AND REWARDED'
Glendale News Press
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-818-0907-paul-krekorian-in-azerbaijan-murder-of-armenians-is-encouraged-celebrated-and-rewarded,0,6793176.story
Sept 7 2012
CA
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian - a former state
assemblyman for the 43rd District - issued a letter Thursday
expressing his "shock and anger" over Azerbaijan's recent pardon of
one of its own military officers, who was convicted of murdering an
Armenian soldier in his sleep with an ax.
Krekorian, the first Armenian American elected to the L.A. City
Council, attempted to deliver the letter to Azerbaijan's consulate
Thursday as hundreds of people protested outside, but was rebuffed.
The protest, organized by several Armenian organizations, came as
tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan continued to deteriorate after
Ramil Safarov was extradited last month from Hungary, where he was
serving a life sentence for murdering Gurgen Markarian at a NATO
military academy in 2004.
Upon returning home, Safarov was pardoned and reportedly promoted and
provided with housing, paid for by the government, infuriating
Armenian across the globe. Hungary has said it released Safarov after
being assured by Azerbaijan that he would serve out his sentence in
his native country.
But critics allege he was released in exchange for a multi-billion
dollar bond purchase of Hungarian bonds by oil-rich Azerbaijan - an
allegation that has been denied by both countries.
Armenia's president has since threatened war amid protests at
Azerbaijani and Hungarian consulates around the world.
In his letter, Krekorian called on Hungary to condemn Azerbaijan's
"horrific actions in freeing and lionizing this savage murderer."
"As the descendant of Armenian immigrants who fled genocide, I am
repulsed by the actions of the Azerbaijani government and I am stunned
by Hungary's role in facilitating them," he wrote.
From: Baghdasarian
Glendale News Press
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-818-0907-paul-krekorian-in-azerbaijan-murder-of-armenians-is-encouraged-celebrated-and-rewarded,0,6793176.story
Sept 7 2012
CA
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian - a former state
assemblyman for the 43rd District - issued a letter Thursday
expressing his "shock and anger" over Azerbaijan's recent pardon of
one of its own military officers, who was convicted of murdering an
Armenian soldier in his sleep with an ax.
Krekorian, the first Armenian American elected to the L.A. City
Council, attempted to deliver the letter to Azerbaijan's consulate
Thursday as hundreds of people protested outside, but was rebuffed.
The protest, organized by several Armenian organizations, came as
tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan continued to deteriorate after
Ramil Safarov was extradited last month from Hungary, where he was
serving a life sentence for murdering Gurgen Markarian at a NATO
military academy in 2004.
Upon returning home, Safarov was pardoned and reportedly promoted and
provided with housing, paid for by the government, infuriating
Armenian across the globe. Hungary has said it released Safarov after
being assured by Azerbaijan that he would serve out his sentence in
his native country.
But critics allege he was released in exchange for a multi-billion
dollar bond purchase of Hungarian bonds by oil-rich Azerbaijan - an
allegation that has been denied by both countries.
Armenia's president has since threatened war amid protests at
Azerbaijani and Hungarian consulates around the world.
In his letter, Krekorian called on Hungary to condemn Azerbaijan's
"horrific actions in freeing and lionizing this savage murderer."
"As the descendant of Armenian immigrants who fled genocide, I am
repulsed by the actions of the Azerbaijani government and I am stunned
by Hungary's role in facilitating them," he wrote.
From: Baghdasarian