This week, we remember Armenian army officer Gurgen Margaryan, who was brutally murdered in his sleep by an Azerbaijani man with an ax in Hungary.
Two decades ago, in a horrific incident that shook the NATO-sponsored “Partnership for Peace” program in Budapest, Hungary, Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, just 26 years old, was tragically hacked to death in his sleep on February 19, 2004, by Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant of the Azerbaijani army. Both officers were participants in an English language training course, and the incident occurred within the seemingly peaceful confines of their shared dormitory.
On the evening of February 18, Margaryan’s Hungarian roommate, Balázs Kuti, recalls having tea before retiring to bed due to a fever. Gurgen was working on his homework while Balázs watched a football match between Armenia and Hungary. Later that evening, around 9:30 pm, Margaryan left to visit another program participant from Armenia, Hayk Makuchyan, in a neighboring room.
Kuti, drifting in and out of sleep, was startled by the sudden flicker of light in the room. Assuming it was Margaryan returning, he turned to face the wall. However, his sleep was disrupted by muffled sounds, and when he turned back, he was met with a horrifying sight – Safarov standing over Margaryan’s bed, wielding a long ax.
In a moment of terror, Kuti pleaded with Safarov to stop. Safarov callously assured Kuti that he had no quarrel with him before delivering several more blows to Margaryan’s defenseless body. With an expression of grim satisfaction, Safarov left the room, leaving behind a scene of unimaginable horror and despair.
Margaryan’s lifeless body lay in a pool of blood, his promising future cut short by an act of unspeakable cruelty. Safarov’s brutal attack was not just an isolated incident; it was a chilling reminder of the pervasive Armenophobia that continues to afflict Azerbaijan, fueling violence, discrimination, and untold suffering.
Despite the swift apprehension and trial of Safarov in Hungary, justice was tragically denied when he was extradited to Azerbaijan in 2012. Safarov was welcomed as a hero upon his return, pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev, and promoted within the Azerbaijani Army.
The Safarov case served as a stark warning – the facade of progressivism and tolerance presented by Azerbaijan was shattered, revealing a darker reality of repression and injustice.
As we commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Gurgen Margaryan’s untimely passing, let us not only remember him as a victim of senseless violence but also as a symbol of resilience and the ongoing struggle against hatred and bigotry. May his memory inspire us to continue the fight for justice and equality, and to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.
Moreover, the recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has once again brought Azerbaijan’s human rights violations into sharp focus. The ECHR’s decision concerning the pardon and promotion of Ramil Safarov, Margaryan’s murderer, underscores the systemic nature of Armenophobia in Azerbaijan. The Court found compelling evidence suggesting that Safarov’s pardon and subsequent honors were racially motivated, reflecting a disturbing trend of ethnic hatred.
Furthermore, the ruling sheds light on the geopolitical complexities surrounding Safarov’s extradition from Hungary to Azerbaijan. Reports of suspicious financial transactions and political maneuverings cast doubt on the integrity of the extradition process, raising serious questions about Azerbaijan’s commitment to justice and accountability.
The international community’s condemnation of Azerbaijan’s actions is palpable, with Armenia severing diplomatic relations with Hungary in response to Safarov’s release. The ECHR’s ruling serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater accountability and transparency in addressing human rights abuses, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Artsakh.
The impact of this senseless act of violence continues to resonate today as echoes of violence and hatred towards Armenians persist from Turkey and Azerbaijan.
