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European Parliament President disturbed by politically motivated pardoning of Ramil Safarov in Azerbaijan

European Parliament President disturbed by politically motivated pardoning of Ramil Safarov in Azerbaijan

5 September 2012

"The Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced People should not be abused for political purpose," European Parliament President Martin Schulz made the following statement after Ramil Safarov was pardoned by Azerbaijan's President. 
 
Safarov was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in Hungary for the murder of an Armenian army officer in Budapest in 2004.  Last month, Safarov was transferred to Azerbaijan following Azerbaijan's request under the convention on the transfer of sentenced people.  EP President Schulz stated:  "The convention on the transfer of sentenced people should not be abused for political purpose. I am disturbed by what appears to be a politically motivated pardon of Mr Safarov by the President of Azerbaijan.At the same time, I urge Azerbaijan and Armenia to avoid any moves and statements that might
exacerbate the situation."

Earlier on August 31 the Armenian authorities adopted a decision to suspend diplomatic relations and official contacts with Hungary.  President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan made public the decision at a special meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions on Friday after the Hungarian authorities extradited Azeri officer Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced by a Hungarian court to life in jail for killing sleeping Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe in Budapest in 2004. Both the officers were undergoing an English language course under the NATO PfP program. The same day after Safarov's extradition,
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev decreed to pardon the criminal.

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