Arman Tatoyan, a former Human Rights Defender and a candidate in Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections representing the “Wings of Unity” political initiative, has sharply criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian government for their silence following the reported promotion of Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani officer convicted of murdering Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in 2004.
Safarov was convicted of killing Margaryan with an axe during a NATO-sponsored training course in Hungary. He was later transferred to Azerbaijan, where he was pardoned and publicly celebrated. According to reports, Safarov was promoted to the rank of colonel this month.
In a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Tatoyan accused Armenian authorities of failing to respond for days after the news emerged, calling the silence unacceptable.
“For ten days, the Armenian government has said nothing, no statement, no reaction, no protest. This is an insult to our state and to the Armenian people,” Tatoyan said.
Tatoyan contrasted the government’s silence with Pashinyan’s recent visit to Russia, where the prime minister publicly praised Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He linked those remarks to Azerbaijan’s fuel exports to Armenia and the transit of grain through Azerbaijani territory.
“Ramil Safarov receives a new rank, while we receive two canisters of petrol and the Armenian prime minister’s gratitude to the Azerbaijani president,” Tatoyan said, questioning the government’s understanding of peace and leadership.
He further accused Pashinyan of disregarding fallen Armenian soldiers and their families by failing to raise the issue publicly or defend their rights. Tatoyan questioned whether this reflected the “peace” the government claims to have delivered.
“And what should a real leader do?” Tatoyan said. “A real leader must act in a way that ensures no one dares to harm a citizen of his country. And if harm is done, the perpetrator must clearly know that no matter where in the world they are, justice and punishment will follow.”
Safarov has reportedly been promoted to the rank of colonel in Azerbaijan, according to Khroniki Kavkaza, citing Azerbaijani media sources. On December 9, Azerbaijani-language media outlets and social media pages reported the promotion, while Russian-language Azerbaijani media remained silent on the matter.
Safarov brutally murdered Margaryan in his sleep with an axe during a NATO-sponsored English-language training program in Budapest in 2004. Margaryan died at the scene. In April 2006, a Budapest city court sentenced Safarov to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 30 years.
In 2012, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan, a move that prompted Armenia to sever diplomatic relations with Budapest. Upon his arrival in Baku, Safarov was welcomed as a national hero: his military rank was elevated, and he was granted an apartment and financial support. At the time, Azerbaijan’s ombudsperson, Elmira Suleymanova, said that “Safarov should serve as an example for Azerbaijani youth.”
Armenia and Hungary restored diplomatic relations in December 2022.
