AGMI Director rules out Armenian officer’s killer extradition

December 14, 2011 - 13:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute (AGMI) Hayk Demoyan does not consider Azerbaijani assassin Ramil Safarov’s extradition feasible.

In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Mr. Demoyan ruled out such a scenario recalling unprecedented murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan.

According to AGMI Director, despite Azerbaijan’s attempts to bribe Hungarian court, the country did not shift its stance on the issue.

“Were Hungary to consider Safarov’s extradition, it would have done it right after sentencing,” Demoyan stated, adding that Hungary will refrain from any steps without prior reviewing Armenia’s position.

Lieutenant of the Armenian Armed Forces Gurgen Margaryan, 26, was hacked to death while asleep by fellow Azerbaijani participant 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, Safarov was life imprisoned for murdering Margaryan. On February 22, 2007, Budapest Court rejected the Azerbaijani military officer's appeal against the verdict which excluded possibility of pardon for the initial 30 years. The appeal court ruled that the ruling brought by Budapest District Court against 30-year-old Safarov, should stand.

Hayk Demoyan was Armenian Defense Ministry representative at the Budapest trial in 2006.