RAMIL SAFAROV’S SENTENCE LIKELY TO BE DECLARED

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006

On November 17 Hungarian court will hold court hearings on prison
officers’ claim against Ramil Safarov, Azerbaijani army officer, who
was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Armenian lieutenant
Gurgen Markarian in Hungary, Safarov’s lawyer Ikram Shirinov told
the APA.

Safarov’s family members and lawyers Ikram Shirinoiv and Elmar Kerimov
will participate in the hearings. Shirinov said that they will visit
Hungary on the first 10day of November. The lawyers said that Safarov
is expected to be sentenced on November 17. Hungarian lawyer Clara
Fisher will defend his rights on the case. The Azerbaijani lawyers
will meet with Safarov and Clara Fisher during the visit.

While being held in Hungarian prison in 2004, jailers wanted telephone
card from Ramil. But Ramil could not understand Hungarian which led
an incident between them. Eight police officers tied his hands and
used force. Though lawyers for the Azerbaijani lieutenant appealed to
court related to this matter, the court dismissed the appeal saying
there was no evidence. Then the opposite side claimed that Ramil
resisted officials.