U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
August 31, 2012

2012/1369

STATEMENT BY PATRICK VENTRELL, ACTING DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON

Pardon of Azerbaijani Soldier

The United States is extremely troubled by the news that the President of Azerbaijan pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who returned to Baku today following his transfer from Hungary. Mr. Safarov had been serving a life sentence in a Hungarian jail for murdering Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan during a 2004 NATO training event in Budapest.

We are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this action and seeking an explanation. We are also seeking further details from Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Mr. Safarov to Azerbaijan.

We condemn any action that fuels regional tensions.

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