Yerevan, September 6. /Mediamax/. Amnesty International is concerned that the actions of the Azerbaijani government following the extradition of Ramil Safarov "will be perceived as an endorsement of ethnically-motivated violence”.

The organization is concerned that these actions will ignite existing tensions between Azerbaijanis and Armenians and encourage further ethnically-motivated violence. It called on the governments of both countries to publicly condemn violence based on ethnicity.

“By pardoning and then promoting Ramil Safarov, President Aliyev has signalled to Azerbaijanis that violence against Armenians is not only acceptable, but rewarded. The Azerbaijani government should rescind any privileges awarded to Safarov and publicly condemn ethnic violence. The Armenian government must also make clear that retaliation against ethnic Azerbaijanis is not acceptable”, Amnesty International has said. --0--