In a letter to Hungarian President Janos Ader, Catholicos Aram I expressed his deep concern and dismay concerning the extradition of Azeri murderer Lieutenant R. Safarov (who has murdered an Armenian Lieutenant G. Margaryan in Budapest, back in 2004 and was serving a life sentence) to Azerbaijan, and for the pardon he was granted by the Azerbaijani president.
The war general also stated that Safarov would be conveniently done away with by someone with an Armenian name, thus killing two birds with one stone.
In the interest of regional stability and on-going efforts towards reconciliation, the High Representative and Commissioner Fule reiterate their call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise restraint, on the ground as well as in public statements, in order to prevent an escalation of the situation.
Armenians of Norway gathered on Monday, September 3, to protest in front of the embassy of Hungary in Norway. They demanded an apology for the extradition of Azerbaijani murder Ramil Safarov, who was convicted of murder and was serving life sentence in Hungary and restoration of justice. A protest letter was handed to his Excellency Ambassador Geza Jeszenszky, who assured that it will reach his government.
Commenting on the recent diplomatic flap between Yerevan and Budapest regarding the extradition of convicted murderer Ramil Safarov, former RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian described the incident as detestable both morally and legally.
On September 1the Central Council of Armenia in Germany (CCAG) issued a press release in which the Council expressed its annoyance regarding the decision of the Hungarian authorities to extradite the murderer Ramil Safarov who was sentenced to life imprisonment and granting him pardon by the President of Azerbaijan and making a hero of him.
While Armenians are condemning the extradition and pardon of Ramil Safarov, convicted for the 2004 murder of Armenian army officer Gurgen Margaryan, Azerbaijani political figures are praising both steps, stating that nothing improper happened.
Protesters handed over a statement for the Ambassador of Hungary to Georgia, Mr. Shandor Sabos, in which they regret that the Hungarian authorities made a deal with the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan.
According to Baku press reports, the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has compensated extradited army officer Ramil Safarov with back wages for the eight years he spent in an Hungarian jail for the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan.