Bulgaria’s Armenians throw coins at Hungarian embassy

September 4, 2012 - 16:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Some 50 people gathered in front of Hungary's embassy in Bulgaria's capital Sofia to protest against Hungary's extradition to Azerbaijan of Ramil Safarov, the murderer of Armenian army officer Gurgen Margaryan, novinite.com reported.

The protesters – members of the local Armenia minority, according to media – sang Armenia's national anthem and chanted "Shame on Hungary!" and "Disgrace!" They also threw small coins at the building of the Hungarian embassy.

New protests are to take place in front of the Hungary's embassy in Sofia, the next one most likely to be scheduled for September 11, when a World Cup qualifier will be played between the teams of Bulgaria and Armenia.

Armenians constitute Bulgaria's fourth largest minority.

Safarov, who was sentenced to life by a Hungarian court for the murder of Armenian office Gurgen Margaryan in February 2004, was extradited to Azerbaijan on Aug 31, 2012 and immediately pardoned by the country’s President Ilham Aliyev.

In response, Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary.

Gurgen Margaryan

On February 19, 2004, 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 Partnership for Peace NATO-sponsored program. In accordance with Budapest District Court sentence dated April 13, 2006, Ramil Safarov was life imprisoned for murdering the Armenian officer.

On February 22, 2007, Budapest Court rejected the Azerbaijani military officer's appeal against a life sentence. The appeal court ruled that the decision brought by Budapest District Court against 30-year-old Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, should stand.

On August 31, 2012, Hungary extradited Safarov back to Azerbaijan, where he was promptly pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev.