Representatives of the Armenian-American community rallied against Hungary’s extradition and Azerbaijan’s pardon of axe-murderer Ramil Safarov on Monday in New York, Armenian Weekly reports.

“Tonight’s protest and candlelight vigil follow similar protests by Armenian and non-Armenians around the world calling for justice. Justice not only for Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, but also for all Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabagh. It is unfathomable to see any circumstance in which any Armenian in Nagorno-Karabagh could ever again live under Azerbaijani rule,” said ANCA Eastern Region Board member James Sahagian.

The protesters chanted “We want justice now,” “Jail Safarov,” and “Turkey is a liar” slogans.

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.