Expert hails Czech Parliamentary Committee’s resolution on Safarov release

October 25, 2012 - 17:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Czech Parliamentary Committee’s reaction to extradition and release of Azeri axe-murderer Ramil Safarov is typical for European countries, a political analyst believes.

On October 23, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic issued a resolution expressing deep concern over release of Azeri criminal Ramil Safarov convicted by a court of an EU member state over axe-killing an Armenian officer.

“Hungarian people, as well, showed an adequate response, with all the protest rallies and petitions against the country’s leadership proving the fact. It’s hard to say though, whether other European countries will follow the Czech Republic’s suit in issuing a similar resolution,” Alexander Iskandaryan said.

The expert, however, was skeptical over progress in Karabakh conflict settlement during Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Paris. “Safarov case is just another reason to see who we’re dealing with,” the expert stressed.

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.