Armenian MP calls for freezing Azeri officials’ assets in foreign banks

YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. An Armenian parliament member said today the authorities in Yerevan must ask leading international financial organizations to freeze financial assets of Azerbaijani officials involved in the scandalous repatriation of Azerbaijani army officer, Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan.

Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army Lt. convicted by a Hungarian court to life in prison for killing an Armenian colleague, Gurgen Margarian, had been sent by Hungary back to Azerbaijan to serve his prison sentence where he was pardoned by Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev. Lt. Ramil Safarov was given a life sentence in 2006 by a Hungarian court after he confessed to killing Lt. Gurgen Margarian, an Armenian, while both were in Hungary for a 2004 NATO language course. Azerbaijan’s president decision prompted Armenia to suspend diplomatic ties with Hungary. 

"We must seek imposition of sanctions on Azerbaijani officials involved in Safarov’s repatriation, including visa restrictions and the freezing of their financial assets in foreign banks,’ Artashes Geghamian head of the National Unity party, elected to parliament on the Republican Party’s slate, said at an extraordinary session of parliament, convened to discuss Armenia’s steps.

He also said the final text of a declaration that the parliament was to adopt today, must express solidarity with a statement by CSTO Secretary General, Nikolay Bordyzha who condemned Azerbaijani authorities for pardoning Safarov.-0-