[3] On 11 January 2004, he left for Budapest, Hungary, to participate in a three-month English language course which was part of NATO's Partnership for Peace program.

He thought it was Gurgen returning to the room, but after hearing some muffled sounds, he turned his head away from the wall and saw Safarov standing by Margaryan's bed with a long axe in his hands: By that time, I understood that something terrible had happened for there was blood all around.

[6][7] A Budapest policeman commented that the murder had been conducted "with unusual cruelty," adding "beside a number of knife wounds on his chest, the victim's head was practically severed from his body.

"[8] During the trial, Safarov's lawyers attempted to convince the judge that he had an unstable mind, and claimed that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

[7][9] No witnesses were ever called by the defense during the trial to corroborate these allegations in court and prosecution lawyers strongly disputed that they had taken place.

[5] The judge, Andras Vaskuti, cited the premeditated nature and brutality of the crime and the fact that Safarov showed no remorse for his deeds as the reasons for the sentence.

"[14] On 31 August 2012, upon Safarov's transfer to Azerbaijan and his pardoning there, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced that Armenia is suspending diplomatic relations and all official contacts with Hungary.

[15] Zardusht Alizade, an Azerbaijani political scientist, said that Safarov would have been a national hero, if not recognized as someone who had committed a crime, for which he must be punished.

He is no hero.”[5] A court case, Makuchyan and Minasyan v. Azerbaijan and Hungary, was brought in front of the European Court of Human Rights and decided upon in 2020, the final judgement placing blame on Azerbaijan for its decisions in the treatment of Safarov (mala fide acts), but largely acquitting Hungary for its part in transferring the convicted murderer to his home country (due diligence).

He underwent surgery at Malatia Medical Center in Yerevan and, due to previous complications, his condition was originally listed as critical.