The Commissioner concerned about the pardon of Azerbaijani army officer convicted of murder
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Commissioner Muižnieks expressed today his deep concerns about Azerbaijan's decision to pardon and honour Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army officer who in 2004 brutally murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan, Armenpress reports citing Council of Europe cite. ''Racist crimes must not go unpunished. Violent offences motivated by bias, such as racial or inter-ethnic hatred, are a particularly pernicious form of criminality. Apart from the destructive effects on the victims and those close to them, they can be devastating to whole communities and unravel the very fabric of society. States are under an obligation to apply strongly dissuasive sanctions against those who have perpetrated bias-motivated crimes.'' Moreover, the Commissioner deplored the fact that the convicted murderer has been glorified and rewarded by Azerbaijan. ''It is already highly regrettable if someone who commits a gruesome murder motivated by the victim’s ethnicity or nationality is treated with a leniency not displayed towards others convicted of crimes. However, to glorify and reward such a person flies in the face of all accepted standards for human rights protection and rule of law. Such glorification of hate crimes can only send a message that others belonging to the same ethnic group as the victim, or indeed other members of vulnerable groups, are ''fair game''. This is an extremely dangerous message.''
- Orban is still blamed for Safarov’s extradition
Hungary should follow its own interests rather than those of Armenia or Azerbaijan. Orban - Australia disappointed about Safarov extradition
"The Australian Government is disappointed by the decision of President Aliyev to pardon Safarov", stated in the letter. - Conressman Berman calls on Secretary Clinton to suspend Azerbaijan's participation in
NATO's PfP program
Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Howard Berman sent a letter to the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concerning the extradition and pardon of a convicted murderer Ramil Safarov. - Swedish MPs send a letter to the Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm
''At the same time we hope that Your Government will takes decisive measures for reprimanding Baku for their breach of international laws, endangering the fragile peace process of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as for having dishonored the agreement made between the Justice Departments of respective country'' stated in the letter. - Murder should be condemned, not rewarded: Harold Albrecht
''These developments are of real concern to Canada, and in particular to Canadians of Armenian descent who want peace in their homeland'' stated Kitchener-Conestoga MP.