Hungarian/Azeri Scandal Vindicates Artsakh’s Quest forIndependence

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, TheCaliforniaCourier

Armenians worldwide are outraged by Pres. Aliyev’s pardon following the Hungarian government’s release of Ramil Safarov — an axe-wielding Azeri Lieutenant who hacked to death Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian in his sleep, while attending a 2004 NATO course inBudapest.

One is at a loss to decide which country should be blamed more for this scandalous and shameful affair –HungaryorAzerbaijan? Part of the blame should also go to the international community for ignoring the repeated protestations of Karabagh (Artsakh) Armenians that they never again could live under the repressive rule ofAzerbaijan.

When Safarov committed his barbaric act in 2004, Azeris celebrated his cowardly crime and sang his praises. Since then,Azerbaijandid everything possible to induce the Hungarian government to release the axe-man from prison, while Armenian officials sought to ensure that Safarov serves his life-sentence.

Hungary’s leaders repeatedly assuredArmeniathat the Azeri prisoner would not be released, despiteAzerbaijan’s relentless pressures. Yet, on August 31, 2012, without any prior notice, the Hungarian authorities broke their solemn pledge by sending Safarov toBaku.

Why this sudden turn of events? The likely explanation may be found in a brief news item released by Bloomberg a week earlier: “Azerbaijanis in talks withHungaryto buy as much as three billion euros worth of government debt…. The debt, which may be sold inTurkeyat the request ofAzerbaijanand denominated in Turkish lira, may be sold prior toHungarycoming to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a backstop….Azerbaijanis willing to accept yields below the market rate onHungary’s debt.”

Clearly,Hungaryhas betrayedArmeniafor “30 pieces of silver” — in this instance, three billion euros ($3.77 billion)! Such a large sum would go a long way to rescueHungaryfrom financial ruin, but would not save Hungarian officials from moral bankruptcy! ForHungary,Azerbaijan’s oil money is more precious than Armenian blood.

To justify its sinister deed,Hungaryleaked a letter dated August 15, 2012 fromVilayat Zahirov,Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Justice, confirming that his country would not commute Safarov’s sentence after his transfer toBaku. Zahirov cited Article 57.3 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, assuring that a convict serving a life sentence can only be released after 25 years in prison.

Not surprisingly,Azerbaijanviolated not only its commitment toHungary, but also its own laws, when Pres. Aliyev set Safarov free by granting him an immediate pardon upon arrival inBakuon a specially chartered flight of Azerbaijan Airlines. The Azeri Lieutenant was promoted to the rank of Major, received a free apartment, eight years of back pay, and a hero’s welcome for the cold-blooded murder of a sleeping Armenian!

In view of the worldwide Armenian outrage at this disgraceful development, Pres. Serzh Sargsyan called the National Security Council to an emergency session on August 31, announcing Armenia’s suspension of diplomatic relations and all official contacts with Hungary. He further summoned the head ofArmenia’s National Security Service and gave him a “special assignment!” Pres. Sargsyan then delivered a terse message to a gathering of foreign Ambassadors inYerevan, cautioning them thatArmenia’s future relations with their governments would depend on their reaction to this incident!Russiaand theUnited Statesresponded by expressing their concern at Safarov’s release and pardon, and demanding an explanation fromHungaryandAzerbaijan.

SinceAzerbaijanwill surely reject any suggestion of incarcerating its “national hero” or returning him toHungaryto serve out his life-sentence, Armenians should embark on a series of initiatives to convince the international community that Artsakh can never accept the rule of axe-wielding murderers and their state sponsors. Armenians should take advantage of the sympathy generated by this miscarriage of justice in order to strengthen their case for Artsakh’s independent statehood.

In the coming days and weeks, Armenians should step up the pressure onHungaryandAzerbaijanby holding demonstrations in front of their embassies and consulates, asking all countries as well as NATO, EU and OSCE to condemn the shameful manipulation of international norms of justice byBudapestandBaku.

Armeniashould immediately suspend negotiations withAzerbaijanand recognize the independence of Artsakh, urging all other countries to do likewise. When Pres. Aliyev signed Safarov’s pardon, he unwittingly affirmed Artsakh’s quest for independence.

Armenians worldwide should join forces to strengthenArmeniapolitically, economically, and militarily to forestallAzerbaijan,Turkey, and all others from resorting to any future hostile action.