Armenian Police condemns illicit deal between Hungary and Azerbaijan

The Armenian Police has recalled 10 officers attending a training course at the Budapest International Law Enforcement Academy and refused to participate in the CIS countries’ policing conference later this year.

It has issued a statement, condemning the Hungarian and Azerbaijani authorities for concluding a deal to extradite and free the Azerbaijani army officer, Ramil Safarov, who was serving life imprisonment in Budapest for the brutal killing of Armenian serviceman Gurgen Margaryan.

“The extradition of Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced to life in prison for the February 19, 2004 brutal killing of an Armenian officer, Gurgen Margaryan, during Nato training courses in Budapest, and Azerbaijan’s immediate action to grant the criminal a pardon, have provoked rage and concerns in the Armenian society.

With their joint actions, the authorities of Hungary and Azerbaijan paved the way for the recurrence of such crimes. With this decision, they are addressing a message to murderers to let them know that this assassination, committed against an ethnic or religious background, may go unpunished,” reads the statement.

In a statement to the Council of CIS Interior Ministers, the police say they cannot send a delegation to the Azerbaijani capital in such circumstances, explaining that discussions on anti-crime measures on the Azerbaijani territory are impossible.

Praising the United States’ efforts in organizing trainings for the Armenian policemen, the chief of police has said in a message to US Ambassador that the Armenian police delegation cannot remain on the territory of a state that betrayed justice, entering into a deal with the Azerbaijani authorities. He said the police officers, who are now in Budapest on a training program organized by the US Embassy, will be back to Armenia soon.

“We are hopeful the US government will take an understanding approach to this step, especially that US President Barack Obama has expressed his concerns over the steps taken by the Hungarian and Azerbaijani authorities,” Vladimir Gasparyan said in a letter to Ambassador John Heffern.
 

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