Hungarian FM Does Not Rule Out Possible Extradition Of Ramil Safarov

HUNGARIAN FM DOES NOT RULE OUT POSSIBLE EXTRADITION OF RAMIL SAFAROV TO MOTHERLAND

arminfo
2007-05-18 13:44:00

Foreign Minister of Hungary Kinga Goncz does not rule out possible
extradition of the Azerbaijani officer-murderer Ramil Safarov to
the Motherland, the Hungarian diplomat said at today’s meeting
with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku, the
Azerbaijani Mass Media report.

To recall, the Hungarian court sentenced the Azerbaijani officer Ramil
Safarov to life imprisonment, without the right for pardon within
30 years, for murder of the Armenian officer Gourgen Margaryan in
Budapest on February 19, 2004.

According to the source, E. Mammadyarov expressed confidence that
the Hungarian authorities will take into account the Azerbaijani
position, that is, "fair approach" to the issue. For her part,
K. Goncz said the legal process on R. Safarov’s case continues and
the final decision on his extradition will be made upon completion
of the process. "This issue will be discussed by the two countries’
Justice Ministers during the forthcoming June visit of Azerbaijani
JM to Budapest", K. Goncz said.

It is yet unknown if the Azerbaijani party appealed the decision of
the two previous judicial instances. At the same time, Azerbaijan
and Hungary have no relevant legal agreement, by which extradition
would be possible.

However, taking into account the interest of Hungary to the Azerbaijani
gas, expressed by the Hungarian FM in Baku, possible filling of this
legal gap is not ruled out. "Hungary has problems with gas supply
and addresses Azerbaijan as an important partner", K. Goncz said,
the Radio Liberty reports.