ISTANBUL. - Granting a pardon to Ramil Safarov will impact seriously on the establishment of mutual trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Istanbul-based Director of the Europe Program Sabine Freizer told in an online interview to Turan agency. 

Her comments came after the agency asked how Safarov’s extradition and release will impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict negotiation process.

If the fact of Safarov’s extradition to Azerbaijan was comprehensible, granting him a pardon is unacceptable. Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are already extremely tense. In addition, talks regarding the document on the basic principles, supported by the United States, Russia and France within the OSCE Minsk Group have appeared in a deadlock. Besides, incidents on the line of the contact are increasing.

She also added that the sides threaten to unleash military actions and it seems like both nations are up for it. As for granting a pardon to Safarov, it will only strengthen this impression.