Azerbaijani Media Express Discontent Over The Transfer of Arman Arakelyan to Armenia

Azerbaijani media outlets have reacted to the transfer of Arman Arakelyan, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing an Azerbaijani in Russia, to Armenia. Armenian Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan had mentioned Arakelyan's transfer to Armenia during a Facebook press conference back in August. “I have signed the documents for transferring Arman Arakelyan, who was sentenced in Russia, to Armenia,” he said, adding that there is a specific process related to the transfer that has not yet been completed.

The Azerbaijani media recalls that Arman Arakelyan killed an Azerbaijani in Russia. However, they neglected to mention the circumstances under which Arakelyan killed the Azerbaijani. Arakelyan had killed the individual after he had uttered insults towards Armenians in his café, broken pictures of Armenian national heroes hanging on the wall, and torn down a picture of Charles Aznavour, while questioning, “Aren't these your heroes?”

It is noteworthy that Azerbaijani media expresses concern over the news of Arakelyan's transfer to Armenia, especially since Azerbaijan is the very country that, not long ago, spared no expense to transfer Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced to life for killing Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while he was sleeping in Budapest, back to Azerbaijan.

Recall that on August 31, 2012, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan, where he was pardoned the same day by the president Ilham Aliyev. He was promoted from lieutenant to major by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, received housing, and was financially compensated.

Russia had previously been prepared to transfer Arman Arakelyan to Armenia, but former Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan considered it inappropriate. Following Badasyan’s decision, it is expected that the transfer will take place within 1-2 months.