U.S. Department Of State: The United States is extremely troubled by the news that the President of Azerbaijan pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov

Patrick Ventrell, Acting Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. Department Of State has made a statement on the pardon to Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov.  "The United States is extremely troubled by the news that the President of Azerbaijan pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who returned to Baku today following his transfer from Hungary. Mr.   Safarov had been serving a life sentence in a Hungarian jail for murdering Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan during a 2004 NATO training event in Budapest.   We are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this action and seeking an explanation. We are also seeking further details from Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Mr. Safarov to Azerbaijan.   We condemn any action that fuels regional tensions,\" the statement reads.  

Earlier on August 31 the Armenian authorities adopted a decision to suspend diplomatic relations and official contacts wit Hungary, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during a special meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions on Friday. The decision followed the decision of the Hungarian authorities to extradite an Azeri officer Ramil Safarov who 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.

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Trump recommends 50% tariff on the European Union, starting 1st June

Trump recommends 50% tariff on the European Union, starting 1st June

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he is “recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union” after complaining that trade negotiations have stalled. The steep new import duties would start on 1st June, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The EU “has been very difficult to deal with,” Trump wrote. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere!”

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Trump recommends 50% tariff on the European Union, starting 1st June

Trump recommends 50% tariff on the European Union, starting 1st June

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he is “recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union” after complaining that trade negotiations have stalled. The steep new import duties would start on 1st June, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The EU “has been very difficult to deal with,” Trump wrote. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere!”