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HUNGARY TAKING HEAT FOR EXTRADITING AZERI CONVICT
By Gergo Racz
Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2012/09/03/hungary-taking-heat-for-extraditing-azeri-convict/
Sept 3 2012
NY
Hungary has raised concerns in the United States and the European Union
after Budapest unexpectedly extradited an Azerbaijani murder convict.
Ramil Sahib Safarov was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced
to life in prison after he used an ax to kill an Armenian national
Gurgen Margarjan in Budapest in 2004. The two were participating in
an international military exercise.
An investigation found that Mr. Safarov's targeted Mr. Margarjan
purely out of political reasons to reflect the deeply-rooted animosity
between their home nations.
Mr. Safarov Friday arrived in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to
a hero's welcome, immediately received a pardon, was set free and
promoted. Armenia was outraged and the country's President Serzh
Sargsyan announced that Yerevan was severing diplomatic ties with
Hungary as a result.
"Not I or Armenia can accept this. The Armenian people will not
forgive this," he said.
The Hungarian government condemned Azerbaijan's actions and claimed
it was misinformed by Baku on how Mr. Safarov would be treated. He
was extradited with the original intent of serving the rest of his
prison sentence at home, the government in Budapest said.
State secretary Peter Szijjarto also tried to reject the government's
culpability in the events and stated that the transfer was transparent
and conducted in line with international law.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban Monday downplayed the incident
and said the government is "acknowledging the debate with coolness
and calm."
The opposition took a different tone.
"Hungary's government aided a murderer to freedom," said head of the
main opposition socialist MSZP party, Attila Mesterhazy.
"We wouldn't even dare consider the prospect that the Hungary
extradited Ramil Safarov...in return for Azerbaijan's investments,"
representatives of the green opposition LMP party said citing reports
form last week that the government is planning to issue 2 billion to
3 billion euros ($2.5 billion to $3.7 billion) in debt to Azerbaijan.
The government is scheduled to issue altogether 4 billion euros
this year.
Besides the diplomatic backlash for Hungary, the incident has also
invigorated the tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President
Sargsyan said that Azerbaijan "has been warned" and that while Yerevan
doesn't war, it definitely won't back away from one.
By Gergo Racz
Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2012/09/03/hungary-taking-heat-for-extraditing-azeri-convict/
Sept 3 2012
NY
Hungary has raised concerns in the United States and the European Union
after Budapest unexpectedly extradited an Azerbaijani murder convict.
Ramil Sahib Safarov was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced
to life in prison after he used an ax to kill an Armenian national
Gurgen Margarjan in Budapest in 2004. The two were participating in
an international military exercise.
An investigation found that Mr. Safarov's targeted Mr. Margarjan
purely out of political reasons to reflect the deeply-rooted animosity
between their home nations.
Mr. Safarov Friday arrived in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to
a hero's welcome, immediately received a pardon, was set free and
promoted. Armenia was outraged and the country's President Serzh
Sargsyan announced that Yerevan was severing diplomatic ties with
Hungary as a result.
"Not I or Armenia can accept this. The Armenian people will not
forgive this," he said.
The Hungarian government condemned Azerbaijan's actions and claimed
it was misinformed by Baku on how Mr. Safarov would be treated. He
was extradited with the original intent of serving the rest of his
prison sentence at home, the government in Budapest said.
State secretary Peter Szijjarto also tried to reject the government's
culpability in the events and stated that the transfer was transparent
and conducted in line with international law.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban Monday downplayed the incident
and said the government is "acknowledging the debate with coolness
and calm."
The opposition took a different tone.
"Hungary's government aided a murderer to freedom," said head of the
main opposition socialist MSZP party, Attila Mesterhazy.
"We wouldn't even dare consider the prospect that the Hungary
extradited Ramil Safarov...in return for Azerbaijan's investments,"
representatives of the green opposition LMP party said citing reports
form last week that the government is planning to issue 2 billion to
3 billion euros ($2.5 billion to $3.7 billion) in debt to Azerbaijan.
The government is scheduled to issue altogether 4 billion euros
this year.
Besides the diplomatic backlash for Hungary, the incident has also
invigorated the tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President
Sargsyan said that Azerbaijan "has been warned" and that while Yerevan
doesn't war, it definitely won't back away from one.