ANCA calls on Hungary to issue open apology for murderer extradition

PanARMENIAN.Net - During a meeting at the Hungarian Embassy with Ambassador Gyorgy Szapary, an Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) delegation shared the Armenian American community's outrage over the Hungarian government's decision to transfer to Baku convicted Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, despite the clear indications that he would, upon his arrival, be pardoned for his crime and praised as a national hero.

The ANCA delegation criticized the weak response from Budapest regarding Azerbaijan's pardon and promotion of a proud and unrepentant Safarov, who was, until his extradition, serving a life sentence in Hungary for the 2004 brutal axe-murder of Lt. Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO English language training program.

In calling upon the Hungarian government for an open apology and a meaningful condemnation of Baku's shameful actions, the ANCA expressed, during the course of an hour-long meeting, the full range of the community's concerns, including the following three points:

1) It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was unaware of the obvious "pardon" loophole in its extradition treaty.

2) It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was unaware of the Azerbaijani government's public praise of Ramil Safarov as a national hero, or the very high likelihood that this killer would be released by Ilham Aliyev if he were transferred to Baku.

3) It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was unaware that its actions would contribute to emboldening Azerbaijan to escalate its threats and acts of violence, de-stabilizing the region, and setting back the cause of peace.