OMBUDSMAN FAULTS GOVERNMENT ON HANDOVER OF AZERI MURDERER SAFAROV
DECEMBER 10, 2012 12:55
Hungary’s ombudsman for fundamental rights said on Friday that whereas
the Hungarian state did not break international law and acted within
its scope of authority when it transferred home an Azeri officer
convicted for the murder of an Armenian, it should have exercised
more caution.
Szabo told MTI on Friday that after concluding an investigation in the
case, he found that the Hungarian government should have been clearly
aware that Azerbaijan was likely to think Ramil Safarov had committed a
“patriotic duty” when “he brutally murdered his defenceless Armenian
fellow officer attending a NATO seminar in Budapest.”
It could certainly be expected that once the murderer is transferred
to Azerbaijan, he would be pardoned and freed, Szabo said.
The Hungarian government failed to act with due foresight by failing
to seek a guarantee from Azerbaijan that the officer would not be
pardoned, Szabo added. This threatened legal certainty, Szabo said.
Hungary repatriated Safarov in late August on the understanding that
he would continue to serve the life sentence he received in Hungary
in February 2004 for murdering the Armenian. Armenia decided to break
diplomatic ties with Hungary on the day of Safarov’s release.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
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