Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 1 / Trend M.Aliyev /
Azerbaijani Defense Minister colonel-general Safar Abiyev has given Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov released earlier the rank of major, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
The minister received Safarov and congratulated him on his return to his homeland and pardon by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Giving Safarov the rank of major, the defense minister wished him success in his future activities in the military sphere.
Abiyev, expressing gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev for the great care and concern for the officer of Azerbaijan - citizen, praised this move as unprecedented service to the people of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, who was convicted in Hungary, returned on Friday to Azerbaijan. The same day, under the order of the head of state, he was pardoned.
Ramil Safarov was born on August 25, 1977 in Jabrail region of Azerbaijan. Safarov, 34, who participated in NATO exercises in 2004 in Hungary, was charged with the murder of the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, who insulted the Azerbaijani flag. By the verdict of the Budapest court, Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment without the right of pardon during 30 years.