Armenian side waits for response from European Court of Human Rights on Safarov’s case

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of the extradition of the Azerbaijani murderer Ramil Safarov, who assassinated the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, the Armenian side expects for a decision from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the coming ten days on the submitted complaint. As Armenpress was reported by the representative of the interests of Gurgen Margaryan’s family at the ECtHR and another Armenian officer Hayk Makuchyan, affected by Ramil Safarov’s actions, the Lawyer Siranush Sahakyan, they expected for the ECtHR’s preliminary response in the soonest future.

The Lawyer stated that the study of the Armenian side’s complaint could last about a year, though the average time for case study at the ECtHR lasted from 2 to 4 years. “Margaryan’s case will be among the prior ones and the Court will get to it as soon as possible”, - added Siranush Sahakyan.

On February 28 the successors of Gurgen Margaryan and the representatives of another Armenian officer, affected by Ramil Safarov, Hayk Makuchyan submitted a personal complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, disputing the illegal actions implemented by Azerbaijan and Hungary, particularly the extradition of Ramil Safarov by Hungary to Azerbaijan, further pardoning of the murderer by the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, his justification and granting a “national hero”.

On February 19 2004 in Budapest Azerbaijani assassin Ramil Safarov, who axe-murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while sleeping, when they were participating in NATO English Language Courses in the capital of Hungary, was sentenced to life imprisonment without right to be pardoned for 30 years. On August 31 2012 Safarov was extradited fromHungarytoAzerbaijanand was pardoned by the President Ilham Aliyev. The murderer was advanced to mayor, provided with an apartment and granted «national hero». Armeniasuspended diplomatic relations and all official ties withHungary. This step of Azerbaijan emerged the criticism of the international community. By the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia a working group was established on the international appeal against the pardoning of Safarov.