WASHINGTON – The U.S. Congressman David Cicilline issued a statement on Thursday criticizing the Government of Azerbaijan for its decision to pardon Ramil Safarov after he was convicted of murdering an Armenian lieutenant while attending a NATO-sponsored English-language course in Hungary.

“Like many in Rhode Island’s Armenian community, I was appalled to learn that Ramil Safarov received a full pardon, compensation, and a hero’s welcome from Illham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan.  Mr. Safarov was convicted of carrying out a brutal, premeditated crime for which he did not express a hint of remorse.  And while Mr. Safarov is being celebrated in Azerbaijan today, there is no justice for his victim, Gurgen Markarian, or the friends and loved ones he left behind,” the statement read.

In addition, the congressman is concerned whether the Azerbaijani government is truly committed to developing a peaceful, nonviolent relationship with the people of Armenia. Its reckless recent actions do nothing to address these concerns.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant in the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on August 31 from Hungary, where he was serving a life sentence - and with no expression of either regret or remorse - for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership for Peace program in Budapest back in 2004.

As expected, Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was his act of murder, by the officials of Azerbaijani president’s administration and much of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani president immediately granted him a pardon.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced on August 31 that Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.