AZERI OFFICER ADMITS KILLING ARMENIAN WITH AXE

ArmenPress
Nov 24 2004

BUDAPEST, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: A court in Hungary that is trying an
Azeri officer who killed his fellow Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian
with an ax at a Budapest military academy on February 19 has adjourned
the trial until February 8. An Armenian lawyer Nazeli Vardanian, who
is in Budapest representing the interests of the killed officer’s
family and another Armenian officer, told Armenpress that Safarov
pleaded guilty in court, that ran counter to his pre-trial testimony
when he said he took revenge for Armenian attacks on Azeris.

The court heard also the testimony of Hayk Makuchian, another Armenian
officer, who was in the same room with Margarian and who was also
targeted by Safarov and another cadet, Kuti Balas, who was the first
to witness the murder. Vardanian said the trial was postponed in
order to question another officer, a Lithuanian, who shared the room
with Margarian.

In February, Safarov entered the Armenian’s room, stabbed him several
times with a knife, and struck him repeatedly with an axe, almost
severing his head. Both were participating in a NATO Partnership for
Peace English language course.

Safarov was charged with committing premeditated murder with extreme
cruelty, and faces possible life imprisonment if found guilty.