Back راميل صفروف Arabic راميل صفروف ARZ Ramil Səfərov Azerbaijani Ramil Safarov Czech Ramil Səfərov German Ramil Safarov Spanish رامیل صفرف Persian Ramil Safarov French Ramil Səfərov Hungarian Ռամիլ Սաֆարով Armenian
Ramil Səfərov | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 2012 | |
| Born | August 25, 1977 |
| Occupation | Lieutenant colonel in Azerbaijani Army |
| Criminal status | Extradited to Azerbaijan, pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev |
| Allegiance | Azerbaijan |
| Motive | Anti-Armenian sentiment |
| Conviction(s) | Premeditated murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | Gurgen Margaryan, 25 |
| Date | 19 February 2004 |
| State(s) | Hungary |
Ramil Sahib oghlu Safarov (Azerbaijani: Ramil Sahib oğlu Səfərov, [ɾɑˈmil sɑˈhip oɣˈlu sæˈfæɾof], born August 25, 1977) is an officer of the Azerbaijani Army who was convicted of the 2004 murder of Armenian Army Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan. During a NATO-sponsored training seminar in Budapest, Safarov broke into Margaryan's dormitory room at night and axed Margaryan to death while he was asleep. In Azerbaijan, Safarov has become a highly celebrated figure for his killing of an Armenian.[1][2][3][4][5]
In 2006, Safarov was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary with a 30-year minimum. After his request under the Strasbourg Convention, he was extradited on August 31, 2012, to Azerbaijan, where he was greeted as a hero,[6][7][8] pardoned by Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev despite contrary assurances made to Hungary,[9] promoted to the rank of major and given an apartment and over eight years of back pay.[10] According to Azerbaijani authorities, Safarov was pardoned in compliance with the Constitution.[11][12] Following Safarov's pardon, Armenia severed diplomatic relations with Hungary and immediate protests broke out in Yerevan.[13] The extradition was widely condemned by international organizations and governments of many countries, including the US, Russia and France.
In a 2017 investigation into the Azerbaijani laundromat money-laundering scheme, it was uncovered and revealed that several bank transfers in 2012, totalling more than USD $9 million, made to the Hungarian MKB Bank account in Budapest right around the time when the Hungarian government extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan.[14][15]
- ^ Polupanov, Vladimir (6 September 2012). "Владимир Полупанов: Об убийцах с топором и национальных героях". Argumenty i Fakty. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
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hearingwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ “Zerkalo” Newspaper, Baku, 28.02.2004
- ^ "Azeri killer Ramil Safarov: Concern over Armenian anger". BBC News. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
Ramil Safarov was given a hero's welcome on his return to Azerbaijan last week.
- ^ "Hero's welcome for Azerbaijan axe murderer". Al Jazeera. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ "Armenia cuts ties with Hungary over Azerbaijan killer pardon". BBC News. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ "Azerbaijan pardons, frees convicted killer". Fox News. Associated Press. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "As Armenia Protests Killer's Pardon, Azerbaijan Promotes Him". Radio Free Europe. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ "Ramil Safarov's pardon 'in line with the Constitution and laws of Azerbaijan'". News.az. 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ "Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons". Council of Europe. 21 March 1983. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ "Armenians hold anti-Hungary rally over Azeri killer pardon". BBC. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
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