Civilnet
CivilNet has been reporting live from Gyumri and the events taking place in Gyumri and elsewhere in the country. In the early morning hours of January 12, six members of the Avetisyan family were murdered, the sole survivor is a six-month-old infant who is in hospital fighting for his life. The main suspect is Russian soldier, Valery Permyakov, deployed at the 102nd Russian Military Base who was apprehended by Russian border guards trying to cross the Armenia-Turkey state border after police began a nationwide manhunt. He is currently being held at the Russian military base by the Russian military command. On January 14 and 15 protests took place in Yerevan and Gyumri demanding that Permyakov be handed over to Armenian law enforcement bodies. On January 15, the six murdered members of the Avetisyan family were laid to rest. Following the funeral, thousands of protesters clashed with police in Gyumri resulting in a number of arrests and injuries. The timeline of the events of January 15 were prepared in Armenian, Russian and English language. CivilNet will continue providing updates about the developments in the case today as well.
13:10, Yerevan
The Prosperous Armenia Party issued a statement today about the Gyumri events. A portion of that statement below:“The PAP calls on the authorities of the Republic of Armenia to operate in the interests and rights of the citizens of Armenia and from a position of dignity for the Republic of Armenia and not to remain a passive observer. The party expects that Russia’s political and military authorities will give their severe appraisal of the inhumane murder, we expect that they will undertake operative steps to ensure that discipline is radically improved at the Russian Military Base, that they will punish all those guilty, they will not obstruct the investigation by Armenian law enforcement, they will ensure the appropriate punishment for the accused, and they will not allow the dissemination of unbiased information.”
13:00, Yerevan
Armenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan issued a statement about the events following the murder of the Avetisyan family. In the statement, Andreasyan states that the murder case in Gyumri must be heard by the Republic of Armenia’s legal and justice system and that the accused must be handed over to the Armenian side via a written demand by the Prosecutor General of Armenia.
Andreasyan said that late into the night, his representatives and he were observing the chronology of events taking place in Gyumri and Yerevan. “Today, I have initiated the appropriate proceedings, which will result in the study of the operations of all the corresponding state bodies; legal assessments will be made.”
Here are several passages from that statement:
“I reaffirm my statement of January 15 where I said that according to the Armenian-Russian Bilateral Treaty, Armenia’s Constitution and legislation, the case of the murders in Gyumri must be investigated and heard by the Republic of Armenia’s legal and justice system. ...the suspect must be handed over to the Armenian side through the written request of the Prosecutor General of Armenia.”
“I was especially disturbed, that along with other civic activists, well known lawyer Avetik Ishkhanyan was detained and arrested by police...During the protests in Gyumri and Yerevan, dozens of participants, including Argishti Kiviryan, Lusine Sahakyan, Tigran Khzmalyan, Karen Harutyunyan, Karo Yeghnukyan, Dvin Isananyan, Pavel Manukyan, Gevorg Safaryan, Alec Yenikomshian, Karapet Rubinyan were detained and taken to the police station.”
12:53, Etchmiadzin
The Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II issued a statement regarding the murders in Gyumri.
“These days, our people have been in pain and sorrow over the inhumane murder in Gyumri. It is the expectation of all of us, that all those who are suspected of the murder will be subjected to the full extent of the law. We are sure that all necessary steps will be taken by the appropriate state bodies to disclose the case in its entirety and the accused be convicted in accordance with the law.
“We express our concern regarding the unfortunate events that took place on January 15, that also resulted in injuries. We appeal to our children to remain calm and not be subjected to provocations..”
12:33, Gyumri
Gyumri’s mayor Samvel Balasanyan says that he will open a bank account, and all funds transferred to that account will go toward the care of Seryozha Avetisyan.
It is expected that the Governor of Shirak will also hold a press conference.
12:15, Gyumri
The Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan gives a press conference in City Hall.
He made the following statements:
“I wasn’t here to have applied to arrange a day of mourning. I have called the deputy mayor and asked him to see if a local authority could announce a day of mourning; they looked at the law and saw that it was not possible.”
“A Gyumri delegation will visit six-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan. Maybe I will also go if I have time.”
“We are doing everything and will do everything so that the protests are conducted within the confines of the law.”
“I was in Glendale, to sign an agreement for Gyumri and Glendale to be sister cities.”
“Everyone must be able to stand vigilantly with the people, because there are provocateurs who can lead the people in the wrong direction; that is what happened yesterday.”
“We have never seen a Russian soldier walk around the city with a gun.”
“I do not agree that the city doesn’t benefit from the Russian Military Base. The families of the Russian soldiers spend their salaries in the city.”
“As the Mayor of Gyumri, I am responsible for my citizens, I love my city very much. I am calling on our city residents to show restraint, calm and conduct the rallies within the law. We can’t have a repeat of last night. That goes against the pride of the people of Gyumri.”
“A criminal doesn’t have a religion, doesn’t have a nationality. We should not say Russian or Armenian. A Georgian could have committed this crime. We should not place Armenian-Russian relations on this table. Our position is that Permyakov remain in Armenia and be tried in an Armenian court. He must be severely punished.”
“I am with my people, I am with the resident of Gyumri. Gyumri has pride. To be honest, the incidents of yesterday for me were extraordinary, the person of Gyumri is level-headed.”
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