Protest Letter

06 September, 2012

September 6, 2012

His Excellency Laszio Varadi

Ambassador of Hungary to Lebanon

Embassy of Hungary

Beirut

Dear Mr. Ambassador

We are writing to express our deep concern and profound condemnation of the Hungarian government’s extradition and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s subsequent pardoning of Ramil Safarov a lieutenant in the Azerbaijani military, who was convicted of murder and was serving a life sentence in Hungary, for brutally hacking his Armenian fellow officer, Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, to death in his sleep, while attending a 2004 NATO Partnership for Peace program in Hungary. We remain puzzled as to why Hungary agreed to release a cold-blooded and unrepentant axe-murderer by relying on the assurances of Azerbaijan, a country known for its false propaganda and open anti‑Armenian policies.

Although the Azerbaijani authorities had apparently assured Hungary that they would continue to enforce Safarov’s prison term, Aliyev immediately pardoned him, and Safar Abiyev, the Azerbaijani Defence Minister, promoted him to the rank of major. The brutal murder has been treated like a national hero since returning to Azerbaijan. This is a blatant violation of international justice and the rule of law in a clear case of homicide. Safarov’s extradition by Hungary, followed by his release in Azerbaijan, has opened the door for criminals not only to escape their fair and just punishment for illegal actions carried out in other countries, but also to be hailed for committing crimes on ethnic grounds. In addition, these developments represent a threat to the renewal of violent conflict in Nagorno‑Karabakh. By this immoral and deeply provocative act, Azerbaijan continues to encourage and justify anti ‑ Armenian hatred among its citizens. Safarov’s extradition by Hungary has given Azerbaijan the opportunity to once again demonstrate its unconstructive attitude toward the Karabakh peace process, in line with its frequent ceasefire violations and war threat statements.

With this letter, in the spirit of preserving the friendship between the Armenian and Hungarian, people we call upon you to openly condemn these disgraceful and dangerous actions. We would like to also take this opportunity to demand Safarov’s immediate re ‑ incarceration for the remainder of his life sentence. A lack of a forceful condemnation of this grave injustice by Hungary and international community would undermine the prospects for real and lasting peace by emboldening the Azerbaijani government to continue inciting its own citizens too violence. The Azerbaijani authorities’ provocations also increase the threat of a possible outbreak of armed confrontation in the Caucasus.

Sincerely,

A.R.F Tashnag Party

Social Democrat Hunchag Party

Armenian Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar)Party

MFA RA
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