Lawyer: Armenia must do utmost to prevent Safarov’s extradition to Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia must take every possible step to prevent extradition of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan’s assassin Ramil Safarov, lawyer Nazeli Vardanyan said.

As she noted, neither Armenia, nor Hungary will be able to act in case of Safarov’s extradition and release.

In this context, Ms. Vardanyan noted that Safarov’s extradition will imply his release from punishment, given the fact that he is considered a “national hero” in Azerbaijan.

RA first human rights defender Larisa Alaverdyan, in turn, noted that over 80 NGOs launched a signature campaign to prevent Safarov’s extradition.

She further called on Armenian ministries particularly foreign ministry to activate steps on the issue and find out if Safarov’s extradition process has started.

Lieutenant of the Armenian Armed Forces Gurgen Margaryan, 26, was hacked to death, while asleep, by a fellow Azerbaijani participant, lieutenant Ramil Safarov, in Budapest during a three-month English language course in the framework of NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace program.

On April 13, 2006, Budapest District Court sentenced Safarov to life in prison for murdering Margaryan. On February 22, 2007, Budapest Court rejected the Azerbaijani military officer's appeal against the verdict, precluding possibility of pardon for the initial 30 years.

By a decree of then-President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, officer Margaryan was awarded with a posthumous Medal for Courage on February 19, 2005.