Hungary transfers a convicted hate crime offender to Azerbaijan

Alert DateAugust 31, 2012 Country: Hungary Address: Budapest General Type: Hate crime Racism and discrimination phenomena: Inter-ethnic
Groups affected / Interested in: Ethnic minorities Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Political Discourse
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Armenian
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 1
Fatalities - deaths 1
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Azerbaijani
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Ramil Safarov, a soldier from Azerbaijan slaughtered an Armenian soldier, Gurgen Markarian, with an axe at a military academy in Budapest, where both servicemen attended an English-language courses organised by NATO, in 2004, motivated by bias against Armenians. He was convicted and imprisoned in Hungary. However, in August 2012, Hungarian authorities returned Safarov to his homeland, after receiving assurances from the Azeri government that Safarov’s sentence would be enforced in Azerbaijan. However, Safarov was given a hero’s welcome on his return, as well as an official pardon from the President of Azerbaijan. The case attracted international attention, and stirred criticism regarding the decision of the Hungarian government. The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights conducted an ex-officio inquiry regarding the case, and concluded that the Hungarian government did not violate international law regarding the extradition of a convict, however, there are doubts regarding the government’s compliance with the requirement of legal certainty and the fulfilment of international obligations in good faith.

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