Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani officer who brutally murdered Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004, has been promoted to the rank of colonel in Azerbaijan, reported Khroniki Kavkaza, citing Azerbaijani media sources.
Notably, the promotion was reported only in Azerbaijani-language news agencies and social media pages, while Russian-language Azerbaijani media remained silent on the matter.
Safarov attacked Margaryan in his sleep with an axe during a NATO-sponsored English language program in Hungary. Margaryan died on the spot.
On April 13, 2006, a Budapest city court sentenced Safarov to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 30 years. However, in 2012, Hungary extradited him to Azerbaijan, prompting Armenia to cut diplomatic ties with Hungary.
Upon arrival in Baku, Safarov was welcomed as a national hero. His rank was elevated, and he was granted an apartment and financial support. At the time, Azerbaijani Ombudsperson Elmira Suleymanova stated, “Safarov should serve as an example for Azerbaijani youth.”
In December 2022, Armenia and Hungary restored diplomatic relations.
