PARDON OF RAMIL SAFAROV

That this House expresses grave concern at the decision of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to grant a pardon to Army Major Ramil Safarov who was convicted in Hungary in 2004 for the unprovoked murder of Army Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan during a NATO-sponsored studies course; condemns President Aliyev's decision to renege on an agreement with the government of Hungary that Safarov would complete his sentence in Azerbaijan if transferred to the country; expresses deep concern at President Aliyev's glorification of Safarov's acts by awarding him an army promotion and eight years' back salary to reflect the years he spent in prison; considers the release and pardoning of Safarov to be an unacceptable provocation that increases the likelihood of an armed conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh; and calls on the Government to communicate its condemnation of Safarov's release to President Aliyev and the Azeri government in the strongest possible terms.