HUNGARY DENIES “FINANCIAL MOTIFS” IN SAFAROV EXTRADITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 19, 2012 – 13:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A month ago, a group of Armenian students of the
Central European University in Budapest issued a letter to Prime
Minister of Hungary Victor Orban referring to extradition of Azeri
criminal Ramil Safarov who axe-killed an Armenian officer.

The reply letter denies any “financial motifs” in Hungary’s extradition
of the axe-killer. The students thought it necessary to specifically
note the phrase as no financial issue was mentioned in their message.

Hungary’s State Secretary for Foreign Relations and Financial Affairs ,
who was instructed to answer the letter, is currently on a visit to
Baku to discuss the prospects of the development of Azeri-Hungarian
economic ties.

Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life
sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev.

Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary.

Hungary, however, states that it had sent Safarov back to Azerbaijan
after receiving assurances from the Azerbaijani Justice Ministry that
Safarov’s sentence, which included the possibility of parole after
25 years, would be enforced.

According to some reports, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan in
exchange for Azeri purchase of Hungarian securities worth Euro 2-3
billion, an information official Budapest denies.

“Hungarian prime minister is “morally bankrupt” and should resign
after admitting that he personally approved the transfer of the Azeri
axe murderer while knowing the likely consequences,” the leader of
the opposition Socialists said earlier.

Attila Mesterhazy said it was clear from Orban’s comments at a
news conference on Tuesday September 11 that he had been aware that
Azerbaijan would release the life-sentenced Ramil Safarov after his
repatriation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress