Gurgen Margaryan Murder

[Hovik]

Date: 10-11-2005
Source: AZG
Author:


During the Sept 27 hearing of the Budapest Feb 19 2004 murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan by his Azeri counterpart Ramil Safarov the Armenian side petitioned the court to requalify the crime into genocide. No decision has been passed yet.

The lawyer of Margaryan's family Nazeli Vardanyan says that she also petitioned to recognize the second Azeri officer Anar Aliev as accomplice in the crime. Aliev was again absent from the court. Vardanyan says that once again Safarov was very incoherent and contradictory during his testimony. The court heard for the second time the testimony of the second Armenian officer Hayk Makuchyan whom Safarov nearly killed and who was recognized an aggrieved party during the previous hearing.

The court focused on the results of the two medical examinations of Safarov - the first examination found him sane, the second not fully sane. The second expert failed to substantiate his findings. Vardanyan says that Safarov might have been specially instructed before the second examination or the Azeri side might have made arrangement with the experts. So the court decided to hold one more examination.

Vardanyan says that there is no sense in changing the Hungarian lawyer of Margaryan's family and Mukuchyan. She notes that there has been progress since the Sept hearing and the trial is beginning to turn against Safarov. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec 15 and the verdict may well be passed quite soon

[Hovik]

Armenian Lawyers To Present 'surprise' Facts To Hungarian Court

ARMENIAN LAWYERS TO PRESENT 'SURPRISE' FACTS TO HUNGARIAN COURT

Armenpress
Dec 12 2005

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: Hayk Demoyan, a representative
of the Armenian defense ministry who represents the interest of the
family of Gurgen Margarian, an Armenian officer killed by his Azeri
counterpart in Budapest last year, told Armenpress the Armenian side
will present' surprise' facts to the court which he said will destroy
the other side's arguments.

The trial of Ramil Safarov, an Azeri officer who killed his Armenian
classmate Gurgen Margarian in Budapest where they were participating
in English-language courses run by NATO-sponsored Partnership for
Peace program, will resume on December 15. Hayk Demoyan and another
Armenian lawyer, Nazeli Vardanian, have left for Budapest.

The first examination of Safarov only four days after the murder found
him guilty of the murder while the second found he was suffering from
post-traumatic syndrome when he killed his victim. The latter claim
is part of the strategy that the defense has undertaken in an effort
to reduce the punishment of the defendant. If found guilty Safarov
may face a 15 year prison term or a life sentence.

[Hovik]

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

Did anyone see these? How sick!!!(Pictures of the murder scene)

I hope they lock that animal up for life...

http://forum.hayastan.com/index.php?showtopic=17391

[Hovik]

Legal Proceedings On Case Of Armenian Officer Murder Coming To End

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ON CASE OF ARMENIAN OFFICER MURDER COMING TO END

Pan Armenian
14.12.2005 21:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The trial of the Azerbaijani serviceman Ramil
Safarov charged of murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian is
coming to an end," lawyer, member of the International Bar Association
Nazeli Vardanian stated.

The Armenian lawyers and a representative of the RA Defense Ministry
are in Budapest expecting the results of the third medical examination
of Ramil Safarov carried out November 25. Nazeli Vardanian said
the report will be issued on Thursday during the court session. The
two previous examinations gave way to discrepancies. First time the
Hungarian psychologists said Safarov was sane when committing the
crime. The second examination showed that Safarov did not control
his deeds. "The third examination is based upon the previous ones,"
Nazeli Vardanian noted. According to the relative Hungarian, law the
court has no right to set one more examination. It means that the
trial will be over soon.

The previous court session was postponed over the absence of witness
Anar Aliyev, who lived next door to Ramil Safarov. This time he
is given the last opportunity to appear in the court, however some
Azeri media spread information that Aliyev will not give testimony
in the court since he has problems with his health. In case he does
not appear, his preliminary testimony will be published. When asked
to comment on the punishment Nazeli Vardanian said, "If the judge is
impart the punishment will be extremely severe. The Azerbaijanis try to
free Safarov rating any of punishment as defeat. We demand the supreme
penalty, that is life imprisonment." As for Safarov's extradition,
it can be discussed after the sentence is passed, RFE/RL reported.

To remind, February 19, 2004 Armenian Armed Forces lieutenant Gurgen
Margarian, who was taking an English course within NATO Partnership
for Peace program was brutally hacked to death by Azeri officer
Ramil Safarov.

The latter was accused with Article 116.2 of the Hungarian Criminal
Code, which provides for a punishment of 10-15 years of deprivation
of liberty or life imprisonment.

[Hovik]

Armenian Ombudswoman Calls Her Hungarian Colleague's Attention To Delay Of Trial On C

ARMENIAN OMBUDSWOMAN CALLS HER HUNGARIAN COLLEAGUE'S ATTENTION TO DELAY OF TRIAL ON CASE OF ARMENIAN OFFICER'S MURDER

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 14 2005

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The trial
on case of the murder of RA Armed Forces Officer Gurgen Margarian
will continue on December 15 in Budapest and in this connection RA
Ombudswoman Larisa Alaverdian sent a letter to Hungarian Parliamentary
Ombudsperson Barnabas Lenkovich.

The letter provided by the Information and Public Relations Department
of RA Ombudswoman's staff, in particular, read:

"The Armenian side highly estimates the professionalism and
impartiality manifested by judge Vaskuti.

Having no purpose to intervene in the course of the trial, I wish,
however, to express the anxiety of the Armenian society in connection
with the obvious delay of this trial. After two months it will be 2
two years since the monstrous murder of the Armenian Officer but the
court has pronounced no decision by now.

Taking into account the special attitude of Armenia towards this
crime and the trust of our society that the court decision will be
fair and unbiassed, in any case I want to call your attention to the
delays of the trial, their legal argumentation.

I am sure that you as an Ombudsperson are no less interested in an
adequate decision pronounced by the court.

I am convinced that the Hungarian court will remain loyal to the
values of the Hungarian legislation and the international law.

The representative of RA Ombudswoman has left for Budapest for the
purpose of taking part in the trial and visiting the Hungarian Human
Rights National Institution.

[Gavur]

Azeri Fascists Continue Canonizing Assassin-officer Ramil Safarov

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14. ARMINFO. The Azeri Fascists continue canonizing
the assassin-officer Ramil Safarov the day before the resumption of
his trial in Budapest.

Echo daily (Baku) reports the Organization for Liberation of Karabakh
and the Committee for Protecting the Rights of the Officer to have
held a roundtable and to have concluded that "Ramil Safarov is a victim
of the Armenian terror." OLK is going to appeal to the Budapest court
to defend Safarov.

The OLK leader Akif Nagi says that the appeal is being e-mailed to
different international organizations. Nagi says that "the Armenian
side is pressuring the Hungarian public and judiciary and the trial
is being artificially delayed." He believes that after the verdict
is passed Safarov should be brought back to Azerbaijan "to continue
his duty as highly qualified officer."

Obviously in Azerbaijan "highly qualified" is not a person with good
military training but one who is vile and skillful in wielding an ax.

The representative of the Amal intelligentsia movement, professor
Mursud Mamedli says that "the Armenian propaganda is actively working
to create the negative image of Safarov by alleging that he killed a
sleeping officer." The "intellectual" believes that this is an fantasy
- before killing Safarov "had waken up the officer." This fact makes
Safarov's act righteous and worthy of officer in the eyes of Mamedli.

The leader of the Juma religious community, civil advocate Ilgar
Ibragimoglu says that the outcome of the trial will influence the
further fate of Karabakh. "The conflicting parties - Azerbaijan and
Armenia - are struggling for public opinion," he says.

To remind, Safarov is facing from 10-15 years to life in prison for
axing Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest Feb 19 2004. Both
officers were taking English courses.

[Hovik]

Budapest Murder Case: Hearings Resumed, Then Postponed Again

2005-12-15
BUDAPEST MURDER CASE: HEARINGS RESUMED, THEN POSTPONED AGAIN

Hayk Demoyan - the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of
Armenia at the trial of Ramil Safarov - reports from Budapest.

The fifth hearings on the case of the murder of Gurgen
Margaryan - Armenian officer hacked to death almost two years ago by his
Azerbaijani classmate Ramil Safarov during the NATO-sponsored English
language courses - were resumed today in Budapest, Hungary. The results of
the third psychiatric examination of the defendant which was set to
clear the contradictions between the first examination and the second
one were scheduled to be announced today. However the third examination
was carried out so unprofessionally that the judge Andrash Vashkuti
expressed his indignation and threatened to impose sanctions against the
expert. According to the results of the latest examination, the
defendant was in `a condition close to the state of irresponsibility'.

The judge discarded the results of the third examination and scheduled
another one. Also, as per request by the prosecution two more witnesses
are to be summoned for the next hearings: an employee of the military
school where the murder was committed, and another student of the
language courses. The defense again pledged to conduct an interrogation
of the Azerbaijani witness (the second Azerbaijani officer who had
participated in the courses) in Baku claiming that he was incapable of
visiting Budapest. But this pledge was also refused by the judge. The
preliminary eye witness account of the Azerbaijani eye witness that he
provided immediately after the murder was read instead.

The hearings are scheduled to be resumed on March 7th, 2006.

- - - - -

http://budapest.sumgait.info/news/index.htm

[Gavur]

Ramil Safarov’s Case: Azeris Try to Move to Pity Hungarian Media

27.12.2005 08:21 GMT-08:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Round-table discussion dedicated to the fate of lieutenant Ramil Safarov, who is awaiting trial in the Hungarian court, was held in International Press Club in Baku December 26. Opening the event the initiators read an address on behalf of Azerbaijani mass media and non-governmental organizations. The address says that the Hungarian media is biased when covering the legal proceedings against Ramil Safarov accused of murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan. “We ask you to treat the problem more seriously. Presently over 30 000 people of Armenian origin live safely n Azerbaijan,” the statement says. “If you have doubts over the facts mentioned by us, we are ready to organize your arrival in Azerbaijan to see the picture on your own,” the statement authors say.

Azeri media and NGO representatives intend to send a video cassette to the Hungarian colleagues showing the events of the alleged «genocide in Khojaly,» of which R. Safarov was a witness. «Thereupon, it is easy to understand R. Safarov's feelings, who lost his property and was many times insulted by Gurgen Margaryan. The judge will have the last word. However, we ask you to be more attentive when writing materials over the incident. The media and NGOs play a large role in forming the public opinion. We believe that you will understand us and will acquaint the Hungarian people with our address,» the statement says. A similar statement was sent on behalf of Azeri media and NGOs to Budapest judge Mr. Andresh Vashkuti. President of ANS group of companies Vahid Mustafayev suggested creation of a Monitoring Center that will engage with the problem. «For example, two or three journalists will follow the materials of Hungarian media over Safarov's case. It is also necessary to finance the trip of our delegation to Budapest. Besides, we should not be ashamed and merely buy strips of Hungarian media, who will publish the information we need,» V. Mustafayev said.

It should be noted that during the hearing it turned out that during the events in Khojaly R. Safarov was not in Azerbaijan and thus could not witness the events in Khojaly. Moreover, according to the testimony of Anar Aliyev, another Azeri serviceman taking part in the NATO courses, there were no conflict situations between Armenian and Azeri officers. Thus, statements on «insulting Safarov» are groundless. The next hearing on Safarov's case will be held March 7, 2006.

It should be reminded that February 19, 2004 lieutenant of Armenian Armed Forces G. Margaryan sent to Budapest to take part in English language courses within the Partnership for Peace program was brutally hacked by the Azeri officer, who also took the same courses. Safarov is accused on article 116.2 of the Hungarian Criminal Code (murder committed with special cruelty and attempt at life of over one person), which provides for a punishment from 10-15 years of imprisonment to life sentence.

[Gavur]

Ramil Safarov Became A Recidivist

Pan Armenian
26.12.2005 GMT+04:00

The assassin of Armenian officer will undergo trial for another crime.

Hearing of the new crime, committed by Azeri officer Ramil Safarov,
accused of murdering Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, will start
on January 17 in Budapest. This time the murderer will be tried for
attacking jail guard and can be imprisoned for two years.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ramil Safarov attacked the guard last year in
November.

The guard's colleagues who ran in for help, managed to neutralize
the criminal with great difficulty. The murderer cried that he
was not obliged to carry out the orders of guards, since they held
lower ranks. Ramil Safarov is accused of attacking jail guards and
insubordination. If his guilt is proved, according to Hungarian laws
the period of imprisonment will be added to the primary imprisonment
period for the murder of Armenian officer. The defendant will probably
bring a counter-claim, trying to prove that the guards beat him. In
investigation materials there is a record about physical injuries. The
thing is that force has really been applied against the prisoner, but
it was absolutely adequate to the situation. In cases of resistance,
such actions are fully allowable.

This case has once again proved, that we are dealing with a malicious
recidivist. A verdict, other than life imprisonment can bear danger
for the society, since there are no guarantees that after 13 or 16
years of imprisonment, the criminal will change. This is another
argument in favor of the idea that the verdict for the primary case
has to be maximally severe.

Meanwhile, Baku is trying to find a totally different accent in the
situation. The head of criminalistics and legal expertise chair of
Baku State University Kamil Salimov has announced to mass media that
the incident in the jail can serve as an argument in favor of the
fact that Safarov has become aggressive, as a result of psychological
disorder. "For professionals it is obvious that Safarov's behavior
can at times be impetuous. People with such mental disorders are
kept in a special regime, which demands medical psychiatric help,
taking into account their difficult mental condition."

says the criminalist. Thus, Salimov leads to the conclusion that
the court should refuse from announcing damning verdict and appoint
compulsory treatment. However it should be noted that the results of
the second and third examinations of Safarov's psychological condition
confirm that he is a mentally healthy person. This is why Salimov's
hints at Safarov's "madness" look absolutely unconvincing.

At the same time, it looks like the killer's defenders, disappointed
with the judge's decision made at the fourth sitting, have already
accepted that the damning verdict is inevitable. Now they only rip off
money for the legend about Ramil Safarov. Recently, in the interview
to Baku journalists, Safarov's advocate Adil Ismailov complained about
the shortage of funds for organizing defense. He said that there is no
money even for the ticket to Budapest, not to mention about funds for
"special measures". In short, the advocate made it clear that if he
were not paid in addition, he would not use his contacts in Budapest,
which would add two more years to Safarov's imprisonment period. This
provoked the indignation of Safarov's parents. The murderer's mother -
Nyubar Safarova says that Ismailov deliberately exaggerates in order
to rip off more money.

Here one can ask the following question: where are those huge sums of
money which were collected on the account of "Ramil Safarov's support
fund", created in Baku yet at the beginning of last year? Baku press
has let out that after a couple of weeks since the opening of the
account, there were already 100.000 dollars on the balance. It is
not known how much money was collected during the following weeks
and months because after the warnings from competent organs, Azeri
papers stopped publishing concrete figures.

Taking into account the biased appraisals contained in the last two
judicial-psychiatric examinations and unofficial relations between
advocate Ismailov and the authors of examinations, it is easy to
guess why the fund has run short of money so quickly.

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

[Gavur]

Pitiful Attempts To Present Safarov As National Avenger And Hero Are Merely Ridiculou

PITIFUL ATTEMPTS TO PRESENT SAFAROV AS NATIONAL AVENGER AND HERO ARE MERELY RIDICULOUS

Pan Armenian
11.01.2006 20:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Already in the period of the preliminary
investigation on the case of murder of the Armenian officer Azeri
lawyer Adil Ismaylov told the press that the defense will build on
the following thesis: "Until the Karabakh conflict is not solved,
events like this can repeat." Armenian MOD representative on the case
of murder of Gurgen Margaryan Hayk Demoyan stated it when answering
a question on aptitude of the defense tactics of R.

Safarov, which apparently comes to politicization of the trial,
reported IA Regnum. In Demoyan's words, Azeri MP Siyavuzh Novruzov
stated in the presence of Terri Davis that such events are not ruled
out even in the CE, thus apparently horrifying the British guest. "And
no one at that asked himself a question which are the dividends for
Azeris at the international arena, when they act that way. References
to the "occupation" of lands and "one million" refugees have become
boring to the world. At that Azerbaijan does not want to hear about
the lot of over half a million Armenian refugees and contemporary
Azerbaijan including historical Armenian territories, proofs of which
official Baku continues destroying," the Armenian MOD representative
said.

As of Safarov, Hayk Demoyan said the text of his interrogation makes
one understand he was not there when Armenian self-defense detachments
were suppressing weapon emplacements in Jabrail. It is not out of
place to notice that the operation in Jabrail region was held in
summer 1993 after Azeri troops broke the agreement on cease-fire and
involved hundreds of Afghan mojahedins as foreign press reported. Just
as during the operation on neutralization of weapon emplacements in
Khojalu, Armenian forces here also provided a corridor for peaceful
population to leave. Thus, in his words, one can state that the
counter-offensive was also of counter-terrorist nature.

According to Hayk Demoyan, pitiful attempts to present Safarov as
a national avenger and hero are merely ridiculous at least because
owing to his fear he was only able to attack and deal with the Armenian
officer only when he was asleep and having bought and ground his ax. In
his words, anti-Armenianism ranks as state ideology in contemporary
Azerbaijan. "They will realize the malignancy and unfruitfulness
of that policy in the future. The state, which officially practices
hatred and xenophobia, does not have a future. How can one speak of
peace and co-existence of Armenians and Azeris in the future against
the background of the anti-Armenian Sabbath?" stated the Armenian
MOD representative.