Extradition of Safarov fraught with unpredictable consequences, Armenian NGOs say

18:59 | In the world Higuain to join Juventus this summer

Madrid want €25m though Antonio Conte's side have only gone as high of €20m as of Wednesday.
Source: Goal.com
18:37 | Armenia Gagik Makaryan: SMEs and common citizens will be most affected by gas price increase

“If the gas price goes up, even a normal family will have to pay AMD 90,000 for gas in winter season,” said the chairman of Republican Union of Employers of Armenia.
Source: Panorama.am
17:55 | In the world FC Barcelona to visit Israel and Palestine

FC Barcelona will host two football clinics in the Middle East this August. The first will be in the Palestinian Territories on August 3 and the second will be in Israel on August 4.
Source: FCBarcelona.com
17:06 | Armenia Narek Galstyan: I see nothing extraordinary about Lavrov’s statement

“Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement only concerned his position on Madrid Principles,” political scientist Narek Galstyan said.
Source: Panorama.am
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15:28 | Region Chechnya's honorary consul assassinated in Turkey

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Source: Today's Zaman
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“If opposition presents its vision of the future, then our duty is to take from it what we think is right for our country,” the Armenian PM told reporters.
Source: Panorama.am
14:35 | Armenia PSRC representative: Gas price to be set at AMD 156 per cubic meter

Currently the price per cubic meter of gas is AMD 132.
Source: Panorama.am
14:05 | In the world Congresswoman Judy Chu: We have a duty to remind the world that mass murder and destruction must not be ignored

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Source: chu.house.gov
13:27 | Region OSCE Mission monitors Line of Contact in Fizuli direction

No violation of the ceasefire regime was registered.
Source: NKR MFA
13:16 | Armenia Armenian parliament approves government program

The Armenian National Assembly, by a vote of 76 for and 41 against, approved the program of Armenian government for 2013-17.
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12:54 | Region Zardusht Alizadeh: Azerbaijani people should take up arms and fight for their rights

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Source: Arannews.ir
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As a result, the unemployed will not receive AMD 3bn aid.
Source: Haykakan Zhamanak
11:25 | Armenia New resignations expected in Armenia

Several resignations are expected following approval of the government program for 2013-17.
Source: Zhamanak
10:49 | In the world Armenian intellectual kidnapped in Aleppo

Armenian writer and intellectual Hakob Mikayelyan was kidnapped by gunmen in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Wednesday, May 22.
Source: Lradou.com
10:25 | Armenia Hrant Bagratyan refuses to disclose details of his conversation with Prime Minister

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Source: Zhoghovurd
09:54 | In the world Congressman Cicilline calls for recognition, apology

U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline in a statement called on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to formally acknowledge and apologize for the Armenian Genocide.
Source: The Armenian Weekly
09:32 | Region Turkish-Armenian writer given jail sentence for blasphemy

An Istanbul court has sentenced a Turkish-Armenian author and blogger to more than a year in prison for insulting the Prophet Mohammad.
Source: Asbarez.com
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09:13 | In the world Stockholm riots challenge image of happy, generous state

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Deceased Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev participated in a 2011 gruesome triple homicide outside Boston along with a Chechen killed early Wednesday during a confrontation with the FBI and Massachusetts State Police in Orlando, Florida.
Source: CNN
08:59 | In the world Man arrested in ricin letter probe

A 37-year-old man arrested Wednesday in Washington state as part of an investigation of ricin-laced letters threatened in one such letter to injure and kill a federal judge.
Source: CNN
08:53 | In the world US confirms four American citizens killed by drones

In a letter to the Senate judiciary committee, Eric Holder defended the targeted killing of Anwar al-Awlaki.
Source: BBC
08:49 | In the world Man dead in suspected UK terror attack

A man has been killed in a machete attack and two suspects shot and wounded by police in Woolwich.
Source: BBC
08:42 | Armenia No precipitation expected in Armenia

Only in the eastern regions transitory rain and thunderstorm is possible in spots after midday.
Source: Meteo-TV
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Even as the United States accuses China of military espionage and worries about Beijing's more strident posture in the Asia-Pacific region, the ties between the armed forces of the two nations have been getting closer.
Source: Reuters
21:45 | In the world Russia’s Eurovision contestant attempts to calm vote row

There was no need for an investigation into “lost” Azerbaijani votes for her performance.
Source: Ria.ru
21:33 | In the world EU leaders in drive against tax evasion at Brussels summit

Austria has joined its EU partners in calling for a crackdown on tax evasion, despite the country's banking secrecy.
Source: BBC
21:25 | In the world Israel's air force chief says his troops need to be ready to act quickly in case of an attack from Syria

The remarks by Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel Wednesday echo statements by Israel's military chief of staff a day earlier.
Source: ABC news
21:12 | In the world Fitness-for-work tests unfair on people with mental health problems, court says

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Source: The Guardian
21:11 | In the world The average British barbecue contains TWICE as many germs as a toilet seat

Hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley found the typical outdoor grill contains a staggering 1.7 million microbes per 100cm sq.
Source: The Daily Mail
21:05 | In the world Rescuers search Oklahoma tornado town ruins as recovery starts

Rescue workers with sniffer dogs picked through the ruins of an Oklahoma town on Wednesday to ensure no survivors remained buried after a deadly tornado left thousands homeless.
Source: Reuters
21:02 | Region Caspian Research Institute: Azerbaijan and Iran are engaged in something of a ‘cold war’

Azerbaijan and Iran have been engaged in something of a ‘cold war’ for some time, although the roots of the tense relationship date back to the fall of the Soviet Union, the article published in London based scientific research center Caspian Research Institute site reads.
Source: Caspian Research Institute
20:53 | In the world Petraeus’s role in drafting Benghazi talking points raises questions

The controversy over the Obama administration’s response to the Benghazi attack last year began at a meeting over coffee on Capitol Hill three days after the assault.
Source: The Washington Post
20:45 | In the world Egyptian President announces release of officers kidnapped in Sinai

The crisis recalled an attack on a Sinai military checkpoint last August that resulted in the deaths of 16 soldiers, humiliated the Egyptian military, and helped compel the generals who had ruled Egypt to hand full power to the first civilian president.
Source: The New York Times
20:40 | In the world Steven Seagal ‘almost chechen’ - Kadyrov

Hollywood star spent time on Wednesday with Ramzan Kadyrov, the former militant fighter who now heads Chechnya.
Source: Ria.ru
20:33 | In the world Venezuela ends toilet paper shortage

Venezuela's National Assembly has backed plans to import 39 million rolls of toilet paper, in an effort to relieve a chronic shortage.
Source: BBC
20:25 | Region Iran bars prominent candidates from ballot

The clerical committee that vets election candidates in Iran barred two important contenders from the ballot for next month's presidential election, virtually guaranteeing that the next head of government will be loyal to the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
20:18 | In the world Oklahoma Tornado: 2 devastated elementary schools had no safe rooms

Both schools were destroyed when an EF-5 twister with winds of at least 200 mph killed 24 people Monday and injured hundreds more.
Source: ABC news
20:12 | In the world FBI says man shot dead while being questioned about Boston bombings

An FBI agent shot and killed a Florida man who turned violent while being questioned about the Boston Marathon bombings early on Wednesday, the bureau said.
Source: Reuters
20:06 | In the world Ahmadinejad to contest poll bar on ally Mashaei

Iran's President says he will contest the disqualification of his ally Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei from next month's presidential poll.
Source: BBC
20:00 | In the world Eric Garcetti wins Los Angeles mayor's race

Eric Garcetti has won the race to be the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles, becoming the first Jewish mayor in the city's history.
Source: USA Today
18:58 | Region Slovak journalist: It is a catastrophe that few people know of Artsakh

“In my country, very few people know of Artsakh and I think it is a catastrophe because there are people and churches here, and there is life here.”
Source: Panorama.am
17:47 | Region U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan: Karabakh conflict settlement is not related to energy projects

We are interested in the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, but this issue has nothing to do with the implementation of energy projects.
Source: APA
17:11 | Region Turan: Azerbaijan commanded to ‘‘bring Russia down’’ at Eurovision Song Contest 2013

If we consider that all the mobile operators in Baku "respect" the authorities, and the voting process is under the control, and if we believe in the Lithuanian disclosure about vote buying up by Azerbaijan, then, according to this situation, the logic of events suggests that someone in Baku has impulsively commanded to " bring Russia down,’’ Azerbaijani news agency "Turan" writes.
Source: Turan
17:08 | Armenia Oligarchs cannot influence political decisions – Gagik Beglaryan

Beglaryan answered negatively the question of whether he considers himself an oligarch.
Source: Panorama.am
16:42 | Armenia Parliament vice speaker points to absence of alternative government program

The parliamentarian added that criticism voiced by politicians is not worth a dime unless it contains proposals and an alternative program.
Source: Panorama.am
15:39 | Region Iranian analyst: Azerbaijan does everything possible to reduce Nakhichevan’s dependence on Iran

Iran, which has about 143-km-long border with Nakhichevan, had an important strategic role in Nakhichevan’s political and economic life.
Source: IRAS
14:23 | In the world Armenian Genocide resolution officially introduced in the House of Representatives

Congressman David Valadao along with Congressman Adam Schiff, and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr. and Michael Grimm, officially introduced a resolution regarding the Armenian Genocide.
Source: Armenian Assembly of America
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“Both the government and its program have remained almost unchanged, but the life has changed and the problems have become sharper,” said the ARFD member.
Source: Panorama.am
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Source: Goal.com
12:33 | Armenia John Heffern: We call on to ensure maximum transparency in gas price talks

“Talks on gas price involve Armenia and Russia, the United States does not participate in them but this issue has public resonance and we call on to ensure a maximum transparency in the talks.”
Source: Panorama.am
11:35 | In the world Outstanding Teen Kristina Ayanian to receive Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medal, to interview Prince Edward

“This is a dream come true for me and a rare opportunity for any television reporter to interview a member of the British Royal family,” she said.
Source: Wicked Local
10:48 | Armenia Armenian government not to sell Vorotan HPP to subsidize gas price

“The negotiations and discussions with Russia are underway and when they are over, we will see how to solve these problems and how to subsidize the gas price,” Armenian Minister of Energy said.
Source: Panorama.am
10:48 | Region Moscow finds Karabakh status quo ‘unacceptable’

Lavrov, who was hosting Mammadyarov in Moscow, added that the current status quo continued Armenia’s economic blockade.
Source: Asbarez.com

13:13 27/08/2012 » Law

A group of Armenian NGOs issued a statement urging the Hungarian society and state bodies not to allow extradition of Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan.

“On February 19, 2004 in Budapest, Hungary, where the courses were held in the framework of the NATO program "Partnership for Peace," there was a horrific event, which flatly denied the essence and meaning of the program. Late at night Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov penetrated into the room of classmates and brutally hacked sleeping Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with beforehand purchased ax. This unprecedented crime disturbed not only Armenia and Hungary, but also the whole Europe.

The trial of Safarov lasted more than two years, during which the Azerbaijani side was trying to discredit the memory of the Armenian officer, pushing against him many accusations, and to achieve for criminal possible lenient sentence. During the trial have been convincingly refuted all the accusations against the deceased officer and proved their inadequacy and artificiality. Judge Andrash Vaskuti and the prosecution had perfectly conducted the whole process, strictly adhering to the wording and spirit of the Hungarian and European legislation. Ramil Safarov was sentenced to the maximum penalty: life imprisonment without the right to file a petition for pardon during the first 30 years. All appeals from the Azerbaijani side were rejected.

Already in custody, Safarov had conducted an attack towards the prison security guard, which was the basis for initiating against him another criminal case and imposing a second sentence.

Azerbaijani side from the first day has unsuccessfully tried to extradite Safarov. Representatives of state and public structures afforded statements justifying heinous crime. Thus, the Azerbaijani Ombudsman Suleymanova said that "Safarov should be an example for young people." Ramil Safarov was declared his country's national hero.

All the past 8 years, the Hungarian side has proven its commitment to the norms of international law, rejecting any possibility of extradition of the criminal to his homeland. However, the Azerbaijani and Turkish parties persist with their efforts to extradite Safarov. Thus, the recent report proves the collection of signatures in Turkey, which require proponents to reconsider the sentence, implementing unreasonable and unacceptable historical parallels. Similar messages appear regularly also in the Azerbaijani media.

We believe it is our duty to address the Hungarian public and government agencies with an appeal to prevent the extradition of Safarov to Azerbaijan, where no further punishment is certainly expected, but freedom, honor and even greater glorification await him. As evidence, we present only one sentence uttered by the head of the department of Political Analysis and Information Support of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Elnur Aslanov one year ago: “valor of those like Ramil Safarov gave Azerbaijani society and people a second wind."

We have no doubts that in Hungary are perfectly aware of the fact that the hatred towards Armenians and xenophobia raised to the rank of state policy of Azerbaijan. This was recorded in the report of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance for the year of 2011. We would like to remind that the President of Azerbaijan, in one of his recent speeches called Armenians as enemy number one for Azerbaijan. We also would like to remind that during the trial in Budapest the attorney of Safarov stated that "killing an Armenian is not a crime in Azerbaijan."

Having said all it is even hard to imagine the consequences that may result from extradition of Safarov to Azerbaijan. This is unacceptable in the first place given the gravity of his crime and the attitude towards that crime in Azerbaijan. But far more serious can be the consequences in the context of relapse of the crime over the world. For Azerbaijani youth, brought up to hate the Armenians and glorify the killer, extradition will be a call to action in the knowledge that the punishment will inevitably be soft, and the laurels of hero killer of Armenians on this background will become too attractive. In this case, the responsibility for the potential crimes certainly will lie not only on Azerbaijan, but also on Hungary. It should also be noted that the extradition against the frequent violations of the ceasefire with Azerbaijan could spark a renewal of bloody war.

We call upon the corresponding structures of friendly Hungary to think about the inevitable consequences of such a step. Only in the country of the crime, in the colony of strict regime Safarov must serve his sentence, imposed on him by Hungarian court. This requires not only the memory of Armenian young man brutally murdered, but the obligations of Hungary, as the country, which has proven its commitment to human rights norms, morality and humanity.

1. “Foundation Against Violation of Law” NGO
Mikayel Aramyan – President

2. Gyumri Development Fund
Artush Mkrtchyan – Chairperson

3. “Khoran Ard” Intelectual Centre NGO
Armen Petrosyan – Executive Director

4. “Our Home Armenia”
Nikolai Babajanyan – Chairperson, Member of Armenian-Russian Union of NGOs

5. “Improve Our Village” NGO
Anahit Tovmasyan – President

6. “Trtu” Cultural NGO
Temik Khalapyan

7. Association "For Sustainable Human Development"
Karine Danielyan – Chairperson

8. "Foundation for Small and Medium Businesses"
Gagik Poghosyan – President

9. “Association of Foreign Investment and Cooperation”
Andranik Aleksanyan – Board President

10. Armenian Assembly of Azerbaijan
Grigory Ayvazyan – President

11. International Center for Human Development
Tevan Poghosyan – Executive Director

12. “Protection of Rights Without Borders” NGO
Siranush Sahakyan – President

13. Guarantee Center of Civil Society NGO
Sergey Gabrielyan.”