Azerbaijani media reports that Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, commented on US National Security Council and State Department’s statement, concerning the issue with Ramil Safarov’s return to Azerbaijan and signing of pardon decree by the President of Azerbaijan ,Ilham Aliyev.
Note, President Obama was deeply concerned by announcement that the President of Azerbaijan had pardoned Ramil Safarov, following his return from Hungary and had stressed :
“We are communicating to Azerbaijani authorities our disappointment about the decision to pardon Safarov. This action is contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote reconciliation. Hungary must explain its decision ” said Obama.
As reported, to the response, Fuad Akasgarov, head of law-enforcement department under Presidential Administration, said that the prisoner’s extradition in order to service of term in their own country is regulated according to “European Convention on Extradition” that was adopted within the Council of Europe in 1883.
“According to the above mentioned convention, the person that was sentenced to imprisonment in the territory of the country that joined the document may be extradited for resting of term in his own country by the judge’s decision. Convention can’t hinder the prisoner’s extradition to his own country after the last decision was passed by the judge. Ramil Safarov’s extradition from Hungary to Azerbaijan met all the requirements of the European Convention. Azerbaijani side submitted all necessary information to the continuation of judicial trial. On the base of submitted information, Hungary agreed to extradite Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan”. Said Akasgakov and added:
“According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, to issue a pardon decree is the legal right of the president. According to Criminal Legislation of Azerbaijan, if the prisoner served more than 25 years, who was given the life imprisonment, is, he can’t be released. But Ramil Safarov was imprisoned on May 19, 2004 and served for 8 years and a half. Taking these facts into consideration, Ramil Safarov was released with a pardon decree.”
