Russia Kills Safarov's Nephews; Lapshin Alleges Ties to Assassination Plot

In a new development that has reignited painful memories for Armenians around the world, blogger and former political prisoner Alexander Lapshin revealed new details about the violent legacy of Ramil Safarov—the Azerbaijani soldier who brutally murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in his sleep during a NATO training program in Budapest in 2004.

According to Lapshin, the two men killed by Russian authorities in a June 27 police operation in Yekaterinburg—brothers Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov—were nephews of Ramil Safarov. Lapshin also claimed these two men were involved in an assassination attempt against him, a plot he says was organized by Azerbaijani intelligence. These new allegations have renewed focus on the Safarov case and the lasting harm it has caused, not only to individuals like Lapshin but to the Armenian people as a whole.

The Crime That Shocked the World

The name Ramil Safarov remains etched in the minds of Armenians. In 2004, while attending an English-language course sponsored by NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in Budapest, Armenian army officer Gurgen Margaryan was murdered in his sleep by Safarov, who used an axe to kill him. Another Armenian officer, Hayk Minasyan, was also targeted but survived.

Safarov was sentenced by a Hungarian court to life in prison in 2006. But what happened next sparked international outrage and deepened the wounds of an already divided region.

In 2012, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan based on promises that he would continue to serve his sentence. Instead, within hours of arriving in Baku, he was pardoned by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Not only was he set free, but he was welcomed as a national hero, promoted in military rank, awarded back pay, and given housing.

In response to Azerbaijan’s glorification of a convicted murderer, the families of Margaryan and Minasyan brought their case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In 2020, the Court ruled that Azerbaijan had violated multiple articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right to life and the prohibition against ethnic discrimination.

The Court found that Azerbaijan’s actions encouraged ethnic hatred and failed to respect its legal obligations. Although Hungary was cleared of wrongdoing—on the grounds that it had received official diplomatic assurances from Azerbaijan—the judgment was a significant moral and legal victory for Armenia and the Margaryan family.

But Azerbaijan has refused to comply with the ruling. More than five years after the judgment, the country has neither paid the required legal costs nor removed any public honors given to Safarov. Instead, he remains a symbol of anti-Armenian hatred, celebrated in his home country despite international condemnation.

In June 2025, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers took a rare step by issuing an interim resolution demanding Azerbaijan comply with the Court’s decision. The resolution specifically calls for the removal of all content glorifying Safarov and requests guarantees that he does not hold any government or military office.

Legal experts have warned that Azerbaijan’s continued refusal to comply may lead to “enforcement proceedings.” This process, while seldom used, allows the Committee of Ministers to return the case to the ECHR and seek a formal declaration of non-compliance. Such a step could result in penalties or even the suspension of Azerbaijan’s membership in the Council of Europe.

Lapshin’s latest allegations about the involvement of Safarov’s nephews in attempted violence further shows the dangerous normalization of ethnic hatred within parts of Azerbaijani society. The idea that relatives of a man convicted of a hate-driven murder could be involved in further plots raises serious concerns for the safety of Armenians and those who speak out against Azerbaijani aggression.

Lapshin himself is no stranger to persecution. He was previously kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured by Azerbaijani authorities for visiting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and writing about the Armenian cause. His new claims suggest that Azerbaijan's tactics may be even more far-reaching than previously believed.

This case is more than a legal dispute. It is a symbol of a broader struggle by the Armenian people for recognition, accountability, and justice. The glorification of a killer like Safarov not only dishonors the memory of Gurgen Margaryan but also sends a dangerous message: that ethnic violence can be rewarded.

Armenia continues to push for international justice—through courts, through diplomacy, and through public awareness. But justice can only be meaningful when it is followed by action. As long as Azerbaijan refuses to acknowledge its wrongdoing, and as long as the Safarov name remains associated with impunity and hatred, the international community must not look away.

The memory of Gurgen Margaryan, and the dignity of his family, deserve more than silence. They deserve truth, justice, and lasting peace.

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