British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group condemns Safarov’s release

September 17, 2012 - 18:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Co-Founder and Executive Secretary of the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group (BAAPPG) Odette Bazil issued a statement on the occasion of the release and pardon of Azeri criminal Ramil Safarov convicted for murdering an Armenian officer.

“The British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group condemns the actions of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev for releasing the Azeri officer Lt Ramil Sahib Safarov who, sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary for hacking to death in February 2004 Armenian officer , Lt Gourguen Margaryan in his sleep, was extradited to his homeland on August 31, 2012 to serve the remaining of his sentence. However, despite assurances given to the Hungarian government, he was set free by President Ilham Aliyev and given a hero’s welcome.

Since the return of Ramil Safarov to a hero’s welcome in Baku, the Vice-Chairman of the BAAPPG , Mr John Whittingdale MP , has spoken to the Rt Hon William Hague MP , Foreign Minister of UK , has tabled an Urgent Question in the House of Commons regarding the events and writes in his letter :

“I understand the distress and anger in Armenia at the release of Safarov and the welcome he received on his return to Azerbaijan. I know that Rt Hon David Lidington MP, Minister of State for Europe, is to visit Yerevan shortly and this should allow him to give greater reassurance to the Armenians,” the statement reads.

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.