Russian Foreign Minister Expresses Condolences

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister expressed his deep condolences in connection with the murder of six-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan.

The website of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation posted a statement saying that a telephone conversation had taken place between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Russia. “A deep conviction was expressed that the joint investigation of the Gyumri tragedy, which is being realized by the Russian and Armenian side and the outcome of the subsequent trial would be a punishment worthy of the crime,” the statement read.

In the early morning hours of January 12, six members of the Avetisyan family were shot in their home and their six-month-old infant Seryozha Avetisyan was stabbed. The accused is Russian soldier Valery Permyakov stationed at the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri. Permyakov was apprehended by Russian military personnel trying to cross the Armenia-Turkey border. He is currently being held in custody at the Russian base. On January 14 and 15 protests took place in Gyumri and Yerevan demanding that the accused be handed over to Armenian authorities and to stand trial in an Armenian court. On January 19, Seryozha Avetisyan succumbed to his injuries and died in hospital in Yerevan. A requiem service for the infant took place on January 20 and on January 21, Seryozha Avetisyan was laid to rest beside the rest of his family.

The head of the Armenian Investigative Committee Aghvan Hovsepyan invited the head of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin to come to Armenia. Bastrykin arrived in on January 20 to assist and oversee the joint investigation.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman of Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with Galatv.am said “Because he is a citizen of Russia, then it is natural that he will be tried according to Russian laws and by a Russian court. It is necessary to note that the leader of the Russian Investigative Committee is working in Gyumri and he has been tasked by the Russian president to work together with Armenian investigators. They are participating in the investigation and that is why the investigation is being realized together. However, there will be a Russian trial and for such a monstrous crime, Russian law is absolutely merciless.”