Putin is Ready to Transfer Seryozha Avetisyan to Moscow for Further Treatment

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has had a telephone conversation with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan about the murder of the six members of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri. The accused is Russian soldier Seryozha Permyakov stationed at the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri. A statement on the Russian president’s website read:

“The leader of the Russian state, once again expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims, including also to the entire Armenian people in connection with the tragedy that took place in Gyumri a few days ago ,which resulted in the murder of an entire family.

Russia’s president is confident that all necessary measures in the investigation will be implemented within the shortest period of time and the guilty parties will be punished according to the law.

Putin also expressed hope that Russian doctors who have come to Armenia, along with their Armenian colleagues will undertake the necessary and best support to Seryozha Avetisyan, the six-month-old survivor of that tragedy.

Russia’s president assured his Armenian counterpart that if necessary, Russia is ready to medevac Seryozha to Moscow for further treatment.”

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 deployed 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.

Following clashes in Gyumri, more than a dozen civilians including police officers were hospitalized with various injuries.