STRASBOURG. – The Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) held hearings on the case of Azerbaijani killer Ramil Safarov, who had murdered an Armenian lieutenant with an axe in his sleep in Bucharest, and later was extradited to Baku, granted a pardon and made a hero, Armenian News-NEWS.am reports.

During the hearings delegates of all countries except for Turkey and Azerbaijan stressed the inadmissibility of the action of the Azerbaijani killer and condemned the murder perpetrated by Safarov. At the same time Azerbaijani MPs insisted on the fact that granting a pardon to Safarov, who was sentenced to life in prison by the Hungarian court is ‘Azerbaijan’s sovereign right.’

“Azerbaijan is an important energetic partner,” Azerbaijani MP Aydin Abbasov threatened hoping energetic interests will not allow the PACE MPs openly condemn the Azerbaijani killer and his glorification by the Azerbaijani community.

The French MP, PACE delegate Rudy Salles put an end to the discussion by reminding about the gravity of the crime by Azeri killer Safarov, who had hit for 16 times with an axe the sleeping Armenian officer. He also turned to the Azerbaijan MPs stating that the PACE has already heard enough propaganda during the hearings.

The French MP stressed that on hearing Azerbaijani MPs’ debates he doubts whether Azerbaijan has the right to stay in PACE any more.