“The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be put out with water, and not by gasoline. It is considered one of the most volatile conflicts in the region. Aside from the violation of the ceasefire, there are shots and victims also at the border line between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In addition, there is the rhetoric of resuming war. Add to this the [Ramil] Safarov case. [And] All this could explode at the wink of an eye,” Director Eckart D. Stratenschulte of the European Academy of Berlin told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The also expressed a conviction that it was wrong to suspend Armenian-Hungarian ties.

“Armenia made a wrong decision by severing diplomatic relations with Hungary. If difficulties come about, it is necessary to talk with one another. In this case, the diplomatic representatives take on a significant importance. I understand Armenia’s anger, but apprehension and anger are the worst consultants for adopting political decisions. [And] The continuing demonstrations will solely isolate Armenia. And, in this case, Azerbaijan will become the winner,” Eckart D. Stratenschulte noted.       

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 president Ilham Aliyev’s government and much of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani president immediately granted him a pardon.

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

Ramil Safarov’s pardoning is condemned by virtually all international organizations.