YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Hungary shouldn’t have extradited Ramil Safarov – the convicted murderer of Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan – and Armenia’s assessment over this matter has not changed, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said. He added that at the same time, there are many positive examples displayed by Hungary which should be remembered and appreciated.

During parliamentary questions time MP Rustam Bakoyan asked the Foreign Minister about the recent announcement within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council that Armenia and Hungary are restoring diplomatic ties. Bakoyan asked the FM to give more details, given the fact that Armenia severed diplomatic ties with Hungary due to the extradition of Safarov.

“Indeed, a meeting took place and such an agreement [to restore diplomatic relations] was reached. Public statements on this were released by Armenia and Hungary. Our assessment on the events you mentioned did not change – the Hungarian authorities shouldn’t have extradited the criminal who murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan to Azerbaijan,” Mirzoyan said.

At the same time, the FM said there are many positive examples that Armenia remembers and appreciates. “There are many positive examples. You remember Hungary’s efforts last year for achieving the release of five Armenian prisoners of war [from Azerbaijan]. Hungarian government officials personally travelled to Baku and brought five Armenian prisoners of war to Yerevan. I think the Hungarian government’s support in the COVID-19 response can’t go unnoticed, they gave us 100,000 doses of vaccines that saved lives. As another example, I can mention the rather tangible financial support that is being provided by the Hungarian government to the Armenian Apostolic Church, there is also cooperation on the level of schools, including in the issue of raising awareness regarding the murder of Gurgen Margaryan. Taking into consideration this all, I think that a choice must be made more for the positive and the future, which has been done. Soon you will hear about the appointment of ambassadors from both countries,” Mirzoyan said.

Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan was murdered by Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov during a February 2004 training course organized by NATO in Hungary.

Gurgen Margaryan was asleep in his room when Safarov attacked him with an axe.

During the trial in Hungary, Safarov admitted in court to having killed Margaryan because of his hatred towards Armenia and Armenians. He was sentenced to life in prison by the Hungarian court. However, in 2012 Hungary extradited him to Azerbaijan. He was released upon arrival, glorified on the state-level and pardoned by President Aliyev. On the same day, then-President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan severed diplomatic relations with Hungary.

The pardon and glorification of Safarov in Azerbaijan received widespread condemnation around the world.

On the 1st of December 2022 Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary held a meeting during the OSCE Ministerial Council in Łódź and agreed to restore diplomatic relations.