COE Committee of Ministers  issues a new resolution on the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan

ArmInfo. As part of its monitoring of the implemention of court decisions, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has issued a new resolution on the case of Makuchyan and Minasyan v. Azerbaijan, concerning the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan by an Azerbaijani serviceman in Budapest in 2004. This was reported by Armenpress with reference to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

As recalled in the media, four years after the ECHR decision, the Azerbaijani authorities have failed to implement the required individual measures. In this regard, the Committee reiterates its call for the immediate payment of the applicant's representative expenses.  It has also requested evidence that the letters of pardon published on the website of the President of Azerbaijan have been removed. Additionally , it also recalls that individuals guilty of such serious crimes must be deprived of the right to hold public office.

The Committee also demanded clarification regarding the legality of other privileges granted to Safarov.  "The Committee stresses the such actions must be prevented  in the future and  any pardons or privileges granted for such crimes must adhere to the requirements  of the European Convention on Human Rights," the Committee added.  Additionally, the Committee calls on Azerbaijan to amend its legislation to combat hatred and discrimination on ethnic grounds.