Ramil Safarov is returned and pardoned on the basis of the European Convention

Ramil Safarov  was returned  to Azerbaijan on the basis of the European Convention on Extradition of Convicts, which Azerbaijan joined in 2000, said the  head of the law enforcement bodies of the president Fuad Aleskerov commenting extradition of  Safarov from Hungary, and  his release by the decree of pardon.

Based on the provisions of the Convention, contacts  had been established with the authorities of Hungary and intensive negotiations were carried out. The result of extensive preparatory work was a formal request to the Hungarian Ministry of Justice on the terms of Safarov’s return to Azerbaijan.

Technical measures  on  the  return  of Safarov were taken immediately,  and on Friday afternoon he was taken to Baku by  "AZAL" special flight.

According Aleskerov,  Safarov’s  extradition process  was complicated, because from the very beginning,  the Armenian side and the lobby politicized the process, and created obstacles for issuing officer to Azerbaijan.

Aleskerov said that the trial was conducted with violations Safarov, defense's arguments were noty taken into account,  the  investigation took testimony from Safarov in Russian language ,  which he speaks badly. 

How relevant is the immediate pardon  of Safarov to the European Convention?

Answering this question, Aleskerov stressed that member states of the Convention, in accordance with  their  constitution, or by any other legal  act, can  pardon, and  amnesty  the extradited person or to reduce his sentence.

Safarov has already served eight years of punishment. In accordance with paragraph 22 of Article 109 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, pardons is the exclusive power of the President of Azerbaijan, and the head of state, showing humanity, exercised his right. –06D--