Azerbaijan: il boia di un armeno incoronato eroe nazionale

04 September, 2012

On 19 February 2004 a 26 years old Armenian Army Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan was hacked to death while asleep by Ramil Safarov, a Lieutenant of the Azerbaijani Army. Both were participants of an English language training course within the framework of the NATO-sponsored “Partnership for Peace” programme held in Budapest, Hungary. The murder occurred at 5 o'clock in the morning, while the victim was asleep.

Immediately after murdering Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, Ramil Safarov went to the room of the second Armenian officer - Hayk Makuchyan - who was staying in another room, to murder him as well. He attempted to knock down the door of Makuchyan’s with an axe. By then the police has arrived at the crime scene. Having been detained by the Hungarian police, Safarov confessed to the act of murder of Gurgen Margaryan. He also made statements to the effect that he would kill another Armenian as soon as he was set free. His crime was aimed at the whole Armenian nation.

Budapest Police Maj. Valter Fulop told reporters that Safarov committed a murder with unusual cruelty. The victim's head was practically severed from his body.

During the trial, Safarov's lawyers attempted to convince the judge that he was of an unstable mind, and claimed that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. However, this contradicted a statement Safarov had made when he said he had been studying in Azerbaijan's capital of Baku and in Turkey from 1992 to 1996. A mental health examination concluded that Safarov was of stable mind condition at the time of the murder.

On 16 April 2006 a Hungarian court of first instance sentenced Safarov to life imprisonment without the right of appeal until 2036. Judge Andras Vaskuti cited the premeditated nature and brutality of the crime and the fact that Safarov showed no remorse for his deeds as the reasons for the sentence.

On 22 February 2007 the Hungarian Cassation court upheld the ruling following an appeal filed by Safarov's lawyer.

It is notewirthy that this heinious crime has consistently received public praise at an official level in Azerbaijan and was cited as an example of patriotism for the Azerbaijani youth.

In its communication of 31 August 2012 the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice of Hungary has announced about its authorisation to transfer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan. In adopting such decision, the Ministry refers to the 1983 Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

The Government of Hungary has been informed on numerous occasions by the authorities of Armenia about the environment of glorification and justification of the murderous act of Ramil Safarov, cultivated in Azerbaijan at official level, including the level of President of Azerbaijan. The Government of Hungary could not have failed to note the numerous public statements of the Azerbaijani officials at different levels to this effect, which should have been sufficient grounds for the doubt about the continuation of the enforcement of the sentence in Azerbaijan. Therefore, the Government of Hungary should have foreseen the implications of its decision to transfer Ramil Sahib Safarov, which effectively resulted in the termination of serving justice by a perpetrator of a murderous act. The Government of Hungary therefore shares moral responsibility for sponsoring a grave criminal act.

The transfer of Ramil Safarov has been executed without delay. As a proof of the concerns of Armenia, President of Azerbaijan has already issued a decree granting pardon to Ramil Safarov, who already enjoys freedom in Azerbaijan.

The Government of Hungary, at different levels, including the highest level, have consistently and up until the last moment assured the Government of Armenia that it will not take any steps whatsoever, which would result in the termination of serving justice by the perpetrator of a heinous murder and explicitly excluded any option for the execution of the transfer. The manner, in which the Government of Hungary has acted in respect of this matter is also a matter of serious concern.

Armenia expects that the international community will react promptly to these concerning and unacceptable developments, which have undermined respect for justice, human rights and human dignity.

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