VIKTOR ORBAN DEFENDS HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO REPATRIATE AZERI OFFICER RAMIL SAFAROV
AzeriReport
Sept 12 2012
BUDAPEST. September 12, 2012: The Hungarian government’s decision
on the repatriation of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army officer
convicted for murdering an Armenian officer during a NATO conference
in Hungary, was just, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said
during his speech at the Hungarian parliament on Monday, politics.hu
website reports.
Orban said he rejected suggestions by the opposition Socialists that
financial considerations were behind the government’s decision to
transfer Ramil Safarov to his homeland.
He said the legal practice in Hungary “had always been and will remain
so” to allow a sentenced person to complete their punishment at home
if their home country requests this. Orban said the government took
into account considerations of international law and diplomacy.
The Socialists have called on the government to disclose all documents
pertaining to Safarov’s transfer and the ombudsman asked for a
comprehensive report.
Viktor Orban admitted at a closed party meeting last week that he had
ordered Ramil Safarov to be transferred back to Azerbaijan despite
the fact that he was aware that Safarov would be released sooner or
later, Origo.hu reports, citing two separate unnamed sources close
to the government.
During the meeting, which turned into a heated debate, Orban
acknowledged that he knew “there would be trouble” but expected
Safarov to be pardoned only months later for “health reasons.”
(Turan).