Azeri officer’s trial postponed

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 9 2005

Baku, February 8, AssA-Irada
The trial of Senior Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, an officer of the
Azerbaijan Army, originally scheduled to be held in Budapest on
Tuesday, has been adjourned for May 10.
Safarov is accused of murdering his Armenian counterpart Gurgen
Markarian during the NATO training-courses held in the Hungarian
capital.
According to Safarov’s defense lawyer Adil Ismayilov, during the
hearings held on Tuesday, the Hungarian advocates of the Azerbaijani
officer expressed their dissatisfaction with the activity of the
psychiatrists, who made reviews on Safarov during the investigation,
and plead to re-make the examinations.
Ismayilov said that the Armenian side did not lay any claim in the
hearings, underlining that one of the reasons for postponement of the
trial was absence of people, who were to make testimonies, from the
process. The judge approved the advocates’ plea.
Ramil Safarov, who comes from Jabrayil District, Azerbaijan’s region
occupied by Armenia, murdered the Armenian officer in a state of
affect after the latter humiliated his honor and dignity.*