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GYUMRI, Armenia (Asbarez)—Relatives of a family allegedly slaughtered by a Russian soldier in Gyumri declared that they had no part in the Jan. 15 protests, which began hours after the funeral of the victims: Seryozha Avetisyan, his wife, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and 2-year-old granddaughter. However, they at the same time backed the protesters’ calls for the prosecution of the suspect, Valery Permyakov, in Armenia, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reported.



Speaking at a Gyumri cemetery on behalf of the relatives, one of Avetisyan’s cousins, Samvel Hovannisian, said: “We are only demanding justice. We demand that [Permyakov] be strictly punished in accordance with the laws of our country. We want to know the reasons for that tragedy which is being mourned not only by us but also the entire nation.”

The Armenian law-enforcement authorities have so far been reluctant to seek custody of Permyakov, who is being kept at the Russian base in Gyumri. Prosecutor-General Gevorg Kostanian has promised, under pressure from the Gyumri protesters, to ask his Russian counterpart to ensure that the case is transferred to Armenian jurisdiction.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that its officers questioned the suspect and carried out other “judicial actions” at the Russian installation on Jan. 15. But a spokeswoman for the law-enforcement agency, Sona Truzian, declined to clarify whether it has formally charged or issued arrest warrants for him.

A Russian military court located in Yerevan detained Permyakov in pre-trial custody on Jan. 14. A statement posted on its website said a Russian “investigative body” has leveled accusations of multiple murder and desertion against the 18-year-old.

The statement came as a further indication that the Russian military wants the serviceman to be tried by its tribunal. Many in Gyumri fear that this would facilitate a cover-up of the crime. They say the case should be heard by an Armenian court.

Some lawyers in Yerevan believe that an ongoing criminal investigation launched by the Armenian law-enforcement authorities will be meaningless as long as Permyakov remains in Russian custody. One of them, Lusine Sahakian, described the separate Russian and Armenian inquiries as “legal nonsense.”

Protesters call for handover of suspect

Meanwhile, Armenian police continued to guard Russia’s military and diplomatic facilities in Gyumri on Jan. 16, one day after clashing with local residents protesting against the deadly shooting spree and demanding that Permyakov be handed over to Armenian authorities.

With no fresh demonstrations held in Armenia’s second largest city, tensions there seemed to have eased for now. Still, police presence on the streets remained stronger than usual. Local security forces were beefed up by riot police units dispatched from Yerevan.

In particular, police cars and officers were deployed near the Russian army base, a residential complex housing its officers and their families as well as Russia’s consulate-general in Gyumri.

A street section adjacent to the consulate was the scene of pitched battles fought late on Jan. 15, by riot police and hundreds of angry protesters demanding that the Russian soldier be handed over to Armenian law-enforcement authorities.

According to health authorities in Gyumri, 18 police officers and ten civilians were hospitalized during and after the violence. The vast majority of them were discharged from a local hospital by the following afternoon. One policeman was transported to Yerevan for further medical treatment.

The police detained 21 protesters, virtually all of them young men, on the spot. They all were set free the following morning. The police gave no indications that they will press criminal charges against any of them.

Wounded Infant Undergoes Successful Surgery

A six-month-old member of the Avetisyan family, who survived the attack despite receiving multiple stab wounds, underwent successful brain surgery on Fri., Jan. 16, in a Yerevan hospital, the Armenian Health Ministry reported.

The infant, named after his grandfather Seryozha, has been in critical condition and is being treated at the hospital’s intensive care unit. Permyakov stabbed the baby multiple times in the chest, medical examiners said. The infant survived with wounds for several hours, suffering heavy blood loss, before he was found.

The head of Gyumri’s Australian Hospital, Ashot Kurghinian, described the infant’s survival as “a miracle.”

Before beginning surgery, doctors planned the operation in an extended meeting where Health Minister Armen Muradian and foreign specialists invited to Yerevan were present.

The operation was also discussed by phone with specialists from clinics in the US, Germany, Russia, and Israel.

Professor William Khachatourian, head of the Polenov Children’s Clinic for Brain Surgery Institute in Saint Petersburg, conducted the surgery along with specialists from Armenia.

The post Relatives of Slain Gyumri Family Back Calls for Handover of Russian Suspect appeared first on Armenian Weekly.


GYUMRI, Armenia (Asbarez)—Relatives of a family allegedly slaughtered by a Russian soldier in Gyumri declared that they had no part in the Jan. 15 protests, which began hours after the funeral of the victims: Seryozha Avetisyan, his wife, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and 2-year-old granddaughter. However, they at the same time backed the protesters’ calls for the prosecution of the suspect, Valery Permyakov, in Armenia, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reported.   A scene from the funeral service of six members of the Avetisyan family on Jan. 15. (Photo: Photolur) Speaking at a Gyumri cemetery on behalf of the relatives, one of Avetisyan’s cousins, Samvel Hovannisian, said: “We are only demanding justice. We demand that [Permyakov] be strictly punished in accordance with the laws of our country. We want to know the reasons for that tragedy which is being mourned not only by us but also the entire nation.” The Armenian law-enforcement authorities have so far been reluctant to seek custody of Permyakov, who is being kept at the Russian base in Gyumri. Prosecutor-General Gevorg Kostanian has promised, under pressure from the Gyumri protesters, to ask his Russian counterpart to ensure that the case is transferred to Armenian jurisdiction. Armenia’s Investigative Committee confirmed [...]

The post Relatives of Slain Gyumri Family Back Calls for Handover of Russian Suspect appeared first on Armenian Weekly.


GYUMRI, Armenia (Asbarez)—Relatives of a family allegedly slaughtered by a Russian soldier in Gyumri declared that they had no part in the Jan. 15 protests, which began hours after the funeral of the victims: Seryozha Avetisyan, his wife, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and 2-year-old granddaughter. However, they at the same time backed the protesters’ calls for the prosecution of the suspect, Valery Permyakov, in Armenia, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reported.   A scene from the funeral service of six members of the Avetisyan family on Jan. 15. (Photo: Photolur) Speaking at a Gyumri cemetery on behalf of the relatives, one of Avetisyan’s cousins, Samvel Hovannisian, said: “We are only demanding justice. We demand that [Permyakov] be strictly punished in accordance with the laws of our country. We want to know the reasons for that tragedy which is being mourned not only by us but also the entire nation.” The Armenian law-enforcement authorities have so far been reluctant to seek custody of Permyakov, who is being kept at the Russian base in Gyumri. Prosecutor-General Gevorg Kostanian has promised, under pressure from the Gyumri protesters, to ask his Russian counterpart to ensure that the case is transferred to Armenian jurisdiction. Armenia’s Investigative Committee confirmed [...]

The post Relatives of Slain Gyumri Family Back Calls for Handover of Russian Suspect appeared first on Armenian Weekly.


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