Pardon of Armenian officer's killer to escalate regional tensions - CSTO
MOSCOW. Sept 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The Azeri authorities' decision to pardon the killer of an Armenian officer, who has been extradited by Hungary, will call into question the efficiency of the interstate crime suppression system, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told reporters on Monday.
"There is no excuse for the step, which obviously served current political goals. What is more, heroization of the criminal will add to the already high regional tensions," he said.
The decision of Azeri authorities to pardon the killer of the Armenian officer transferred from Hungary "disagrees with international legal norms and calls into question the efficiency of the interstate crime suppression system," he said.
"The international community will promptly give an objective evaluation to this case," he said.
It was reported earlier that Azeri army officer Ramil Safarov killed Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margarian with an axe in his sleep in Budapest on February 19, 2004. Both officers attended an English language course under NATO's Partnership for Peace program in Hungary. A Budapest court sentenced Safarov to life without the right to parole during the first 30 years of his imprisonment on April 13, 2006. However, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31, 2012. Azeri President Ilham Aliyev immediately pardoned Safarov, promoted him to major, gave him keys to a new apartment and paid allowance for 8.5 years.
Azerbaijan "flagrantly breaches international laws, international conventions and agreements," Nalbandian said.
Yerevan said earlier that it broke up diplomatic relations with Hungary over the incident.
In turn, the Hungarian Justice Ministry said Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan pursuant to the Strasbourg Convention on Extradition signed in 1983.
The Hungarian extradition of the Azeri officer does not conflict with international legal norms, Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said.
The U.S. demanded Hungarian explanations of the transfer of Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31. U.S. National Security Council press secretary Tommy Vietor expressed concern over his pardon.