US concerned over pardon of Azerbaijani soldier

The US voiced here Friday evening its concern over the pardon of Azerbaijani army officer who killed an Armenian army officer in Budapest, Hungary in 2004. National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement that US President Barack Obama is "deeply concerned by today's announcement that the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Ramil Safarov following his return from Hungary." Safarov confessed to the murder of Armenian army officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004 during a NATO training event and was serving a life sentence in Hungary for this brutal crime. "We are communicating to Azerbaijani authorities our disappointment about the decision to pardon Safarov," Vietor stressed. He affirmed that "this action is contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote reconciliation. "The United States is also requesting an explanation from Hungary regarding its decision to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan," he added. For his part, Acting Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department Patrick Ventrell also stressed that the US is "extremely troubled" by the news. "We are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this action and seeking an explanation," he reiterated, remarking "we condemn any action that fuels regional tensions".