12:38, 5 September, 2012
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Azertac, the state run news agency of Azerbaijan is to appear in the epicenter of a new international scandal for irresponsible reporting and fabrication of threats to kill its own diplomats working abroad. Azerbaijani state news agency reported yesterday on an 
anonymous letter in Turkish received by the embassy in Budapest, which threatened to kill the embassy staff. Agency attributed the letter to ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for Liberation of Armenia) an Armenian militant organization that operated from 1975 to early 1990s. Agency and other sources failed to verify the letter independently. “Even a very simple content and textual analysis of the letter, however, shows, that it could not be attributed to an Armenian organization or an individual. First, the letter decreases the number of victims of the Armenian Genocide form 1.5 million to 600.000, which is the exact figure defended by the official Turkish and Azerbaijani historiography. It contradicts to the stated intention of ASALA (1975), which is “to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland”, where the number of Armenian victims is clearly articulated”, an unnamed former ASALA member told Armenpress.The letter is written in Turkish, which is not typical for ASALA’s communication and it reminds more a staff list of Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Budapest, which could be known by the staff of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. The above mentioned facts indicate that the unverified letter is a simple fabrication of Azertac, to mislead international media community. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev pardoned Ramil Safarov, a life sentenced murderer, after his extradition from Budapest to Baku on August 31, 2012. Hungarian authorities made a decision to extradite an Azerbaijani assassin Safarov to Azerbaijan where he was immediately pardoned by the president of Azerbaijan Ramil Safarov. As a result of this Hungarian-Azerbaijani deal Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary. On February 19 of 2004 in Budapest Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov slayed with an ax Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan when the latter was sleeping. The two officers were taking part in English language courses in framework of NATO program in Budapest. Hungarian court sentenced Ramil Safarov to life imprisonment, without a right to be pardoned during the first 30 years in jail.