Azerbaijani Officer May Face From 15 Years To Life In Prison, Lawyer Says
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
May 19 2004
Hungarian prosecutors are charging Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov
with intentional and brutal murdering his Armenian classmate Gurgen
Markarian, a crime, if proved, is punishable by from 15 years to
life in prison, one of Safarov’s defense lawyers told reporters
on Wednesday.
The lawyer, Adil Ismailov who were in the Hungarian capital of Budapest
on 3-17 May, pointed out to some shortcomings of the investigation
into the murder case, such as its being done in Russian, which Safarov
does not speak well. The lawyer said the Hungarian authorities have
promised to settle this problem soon. Ismailov also said Hungarian TV
channels are spreading biased and incorrect reports about classified
investigation materials. He added that the investigation is due to
finish in a few days.
Citing a statement issued by Budapest police last Wednesday, the
Associated Press reported that the Azerbaijani officer Safarov has
confessed that he deliberately murdered Markarian in revenge for the
massacre Armenians committed in Khojaly on Feb. 26, 1992.
According to the report, there was no concrete grievance between the
two before the bloody incident happened on Feb. 19 in a dormitory
for attendees of an English language course organized under NATO’s
Partnership for Peace Program.
The statement said Safarov initially had planned to kill any Armenian
on the day of Khojaly massacre even before coming to attend the
classes in Budapest.
Based on Safarov’s testimonies, police investigators recommended
Budapest Attorney General’s office to charge the Azerbaijani officer
with premeditated murder done with unusual cruelty with “vile motives
and aims,” according to AP.
Ismailov said the officer’s trial would start no earlier than
September.