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Statement

On August 31, 2012, the Hungarian government extradited the Azeri officer, Ramil Safarov, who, in 2004, during the NATO Partnership for Peace Training in Budapest, axed the officer of the Armenian Armed Forces, Gurgen Margayan, while the latter was asleep.  On the day of extradition, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in violation of all Azerbaijani and international legal norms and pardoned the murderer, while the Azerbaijani Minister of Defense, raised his military rank, rewarded him with an apartment and paid him money in the amount of the salary for the 8 years he spent in prison.

The extradition, pardon and herofication of the murderer, who killed Gurgen Margaryan with particular cruelty, for his ethnic and national belonging, is an exceptionally cynical manifestation of disrespect. This is a serious defiance to the civilized world, principles of international cooperation and international organizations.

Thus in fact, Azerbaijan backs this murder based on ethnic and national belonging on the highest level, which is a direct violation of absolute human rights and fundamental principles of the United Nations, the European Union, the European Parliament, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. With its behavior, the Azerbaijani Government seriously challenges the commonly known, recognized, fundamental principles regulating the interstate relations of the member stated to these reputable organizations, which were developed after the II World War by the efforts of the international community. Azerbaijan’s step is not only an infringement upon its neighboring country of Armenia, but it is defiance to authority of these very organizations, which Azerbaijan is a member to.

Overlooking or ignoring such steps by the abovementioned international organizations which have proclaimed democracy, human rights, and peace as superior values, will lead to the development of distrust among population towards these organizations. On the other hand, they may promote the spread of nationalistic extremist moods and movements and the renewal of regional clashes and wars.

Instead of acting earlier and through diplomatic channels, preventing the decision to extradite R. Safarov, of the possibility of which they were aware before, the authorities of the Republic of Armenia come up with belated, emotional speeches and actions, up to suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary and attempting to cover up their own inactivity. Moreover, they are attempting to cover their inactivity by openly supporting nationalistic and extremist circles, with even members of parliament participating in it. On the other hand, the Azerbaijani authorities also cover their illegal actions and decisions by encouraging an atmosphere of nationalistic, ethnic, national hatred and animosity.

We have addressed the absolute indifference and negligence of the Armenian Government towards its citizens, several times. According to reliable sources, since the establishment of ceasefire on May 12, 1994, almost 3000 soldiers were deprived of life, and a significantly large number of them have been emotionally and physically mutilated. Not only privates but also officers have fallen victim, whose right to life was violated in the army (Artak Nazaryan’s murder) and outside of it (Vahe Avetyan’s murder). While part of perpetrators remain unpunished or have not received adequate punishment.

Corruption, nepotism, injustice, violence, and unlawfulness still remained unsolved issues in the country an the armed forces. The authorities do not take proper steps to protect human rights, to abolish the atmosphere of impunity, and to restore justice.

The Army in Reality Initiative call upon:

1. The international organization, UN Secretary General, the European Commission, The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Chairman, the NATO Secretary General, to promptly consider and assess decree of the president of Azerbaijan to pardon R. Safarov and the process of his herofication on the state level.
2. The Armenian authorities to take active steps towards ensuring that those directly responsible for violating Gurgen Margaryan’s and other Armenian servicemen’s right to life and their patrons are discovered and punished, in order to prove the importance of human rights values in the Republic of Armenia and to guarantee that these rights are fully protected in our country and its armed forces.