Legal Proceedings on Case of Armenian Officer Murder Coming to End

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The trial of the Azerbaijani serviceman Ramil Safarov charged of murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian is coming to an end," lawyer, member of the International Bar Association Nazeli Vardanian stated. The Armenian lawyers and a representative of the RA Defense Ministry are in Budapest expecting the results of the third medical examination of Ramil Safarov carried out November 25. Nazeli Vardanian said the report will be issued on Thursday during the court session. The two previous examinations gave way to discrepancies. First time the Hungarian psychologists said Safarov was sane when committing the crime. The second examination showed that Safarov did not control his deeds. "The third examination is based upon the previous ones," Nazeli Vardanian noted. According to the relative Hungarian, law the court has no right to set one more examination. It means that the trial will be over soon.



The previous court session was postponed over the absence of witness Anar Aliyev, who lived next door to Ramil Safarov. This time he is given the last opportunity to appear in the court, however some Azeri media spread information that Aliyev will not give testimony in the court since he has problems with his health. In case he does not appear, his preliminary testimony will be published. When asked to comment on the punishment Nazeli Vardanian said, "If the judge is impart the punishment will be extremely severe. The Azerbaijanis try to free Safarov rating any of punishment as defeat. We demand the supreme penalty, that is life imprisonment." As for Safarov's extradition, it can be discussed after the sentence is passed, RFE/RL reported.



To remind, February 19, 2004 Armenian Armed Forces lieutenant Gurgen Margarian, who was taking an English course within NATO Partnership for Peace program was brutally hacked to death by Azeri officer Ramil Safarov. The latter was accused with Article 116.2 of the Hungarian Criminal Code, which provides for a punishment of 10-15 years of deprivation of liberty or life imprisonment.