Gyumri Tragedy: Updates

CivilNet will be reporting live from Gyumri and the events taking place in Gyumri. 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. He is currently being held at the Russian military base. On January 14 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 will be laid to rest in Gyumri.

23:35, Gyumri

Martun Grigoryan: “We raised our voices in protest. We expressed ourselves, we said that we were offended, we expressed our demands. I am grateful that our people showed such resolve. The few provocateurs have nothing to do with the people of Gyumri. I want us to preserve calm. The authorities are looking for a way out to resolve the issue for the people of Gyumri. This is not an issue of a cover-up but rather an issue of pride.”

23:25, Gyumri

MP Martun Grigoryan of Prosperous Armenia Party and one of the demonstrators Karen Petrosyan have been to the Russian Military Base and confirm that Valery Permyakov is there. “He was there, we saw him with our own eyes,” Grigoryan said.

23:00, Gyumri

As a result of clashes between police and demonstrators in Gyumri, 14 people have been hospitalized, five of whom are police officers. The condition of the police officers are critical; they suffered head injuries. One of them suffered a skull fracture.

22:45, Gyumri

An agreement has been reached with the Russian side in Gyumri that one Member of Parliament and one demonstrator can go to the 102nd Russian Military Base to see Valery Permyakov and videotape him as proof that he is indeed in Armenia.

22:40, Yerevan

Police have dispersed protesters in Yerevan’s Liberty Square who were there in solidarity with the people of Gyumri. CivilNet’s journalist reports of a heavy police presence, some of whom are in plainclothes.

22:32, Yerevan

Several demonstrators in Yerevan’s Liberty Square have been arrested for allegedly carrying weapons.

22:17, Yerevan

Tensions are also high in Yerevan’s Liberty Square. Clashes took place between police and demonstrators who were there to show their support for the people of Gyumri. Several people have been detained including Avetik Ishkhanyan, President of the Helsinki Committee Armenia.

21:45, Gyumri

MPs Martun Grigoryan and Zaruhi Postanjyan are meeting with the Prosecutor General in Gyumri. There are discussing the situation of demonstrators who have been detained.

21:00, Gyumri

According to preliminary reports, eight people have been hospitalized as a result of clashes between police and demonstrators. One of them is a police officer.

20:54, Gyumri

MP Martun Grigoryan calls for calm and asks demonstrators to walk to the district prosecutor’s building and wait until he and MP Zaruhi Postanjyan go to the 102nd Russian Military Base to see Permyakov. The protesters are walking toward the prosecutor’s building.

20:42, Gyumri

Prosperous Armenia MP from Gyumri Martun Grigoryan calls on demonstrators to leave the area of the Russian Consulate and go to the district prosecutor’s office. He notes that two people can go to the Russian Military Base to ensure that Permyakov is still on Armenian territory. Grigoryan said that if there are people who have been detained, he will look into that issue.

19:35, Gyumri

Some of the demonstrators at the district prosecutor’s office have gone to the Russian Consulate, while others stayed behind. They said they will wait as long as necessary to get confirmation that Permyakov is indeed still in Gyumri.

19:15, Gyumri

Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan announced that Armenian investigators have been at the Russian Military Base since the morning in order to interrogate Permyakov and he insisted that the accused soldier is still there.

19:11, Gyumri

President of Gyumri’s Asparez Club Levon Barseghyan: “We demand from the Prosecutor General a recent photograph of Permyakov as evidence that he is in Armenia.”

19:07, Gyumri

The demonstrators announced that it was because of their presence and insistence that Armenia’s Prosecutor General will write a letter to his Russian counterpart demanding that the accused Permyakov be handed over to Armenian law enforcement and justice system. “If he rejects the Prosecutor’s request, he is rejecting the entire Armenian people.”

18:47, Gyumri

Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan: “I am applying to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation with the demand to hand over Permyakov to the Republic of Armenia’s law enforcement bodies. If we are refused, then we will decide what to do.”

18:43, Gyumri

The demonstrators say that they belief the Prelate but don’t trust the Prosecutor General or the Russian side.

18:40, Gyumri

The prelate leads the demonstrators in collective prayer in order to “ease the tense situation.” He tells the thousands gathered that he has had a consultation with the Prosecutor General, who has promised to do everything possible and even impossible to ensure that their demands are met. “We simply need to have some time so that the investigation moves forward. The Prosecutor General assured me that everything will be done to ensure this,” he says. The demonstrators chant, “Now” “Now.”

18:23, Gyumri

Prelate Mikael Ajapahyan: “We must demand from the Russian Federation that they hand over the criminal to us. We are standing here on both sides as Armenians, but in reality we need to present our demand in a civilized manner to the Russian Military Base and to Russia.”

18:22, Gyumri

Prelate Mikael Ajapahyan of the Shirak Prelacy joins the demonstrators. He talks with those gathered in front of the prosecutor’s building.

18:16, Gyumri

Demonstrators propose that the Prosecutor General write a note to his Russian counterpart, demanding that the case be turned over to the Republic of Armenia’s justice system. Postanjyan and Kostanyan continue their consultation.

18:11, Gyumri

Member of Parliament Zaruhi Postanjyan is consulting with Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan; she is presenting the demonstrators demands to the official.

17:58, Gyumri

Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan comes out to meet with the demonstrators once again. He says this is the second time  he is coming out. He asks that everyone respect one another. He makes promises that Permyakov will be tried in the territory of Armenia; he said that there are two separate cases, one by the Russians and the other by the Armenians. “Our investigators are at the Russian Military Base now, the case is being investigated. You have to patient, let the process move forward. I promise you as an Armenian that I will not let that scoundrel get away with anything,” he announces.

17:49, Gyumri

Some of the demonstrators are throwing stones in the direction of the prosecutor’s building. Levon Barseghyan says that the stone throwers are not the demonstrators, but provocateurs in the crowd. He says: “If they think they are testing our patience, if they think that we will get tired and leave, then they are mistaken. We are going to stay here and wait. Mr. Prosecutor General, you would do yourself a favor by coming out to meet with us. We are not asking, we are demanding it. Your car, your salary comes from these people’s pockets, you are their servant.”

17:30, Gyumri

Following Levon Barseghyan’s announcement, police begin to push protestors away from the building of the district prosecutor.

17:28, Gyumri

President of Gyumri’s Asparez Club, Levon Barseghyan: “No one move from here as long as the Prosecutor doesn’t come out. He has to answer one other question - is our demand acceptable to him or not. If it is acceptable and he doesn’t know how to implement it, we will help him. If he doesn’t accept it, then another issue is opened before us. We are patient and we will wait for him, unless he tries to leave from the back door.”

17:25, Gyumri

The demonstrators continue to chant “Come Outside” and throw coins in the direction of the building. The demonstrators decide that no one will go inside the building.

17:20, Gyumri

Raffi Aslanyan, the District Prosecutor of Shirak marz offers that a group of 30 demonstrators enter the building to meet with the Prosecutor General. The demonstrators refuse.

17:16, Gyumri

Levon Barseghyan: “The Russian Military Base has a courthouse in Yerevan, in Charbakh. Does the Prosecutor General’s announcement that Permyakov will be tried on Armenian territory mean that in fact he will be tried in that court?”

17:15, Gyumri

Protestors in front of the Shirak marz district prosecutor’s office refuse to enter building for discussions with the Prosecutor General. They are demanding that he come out to meet them.

17:10, Gyumri

President of the Gyumri’s Asparez Club Levon Barseghayn: “Our demand here is also for them, to protect the professional dignity of the prosecutor and other officials. We demand that our demands are met, to hand over Permyakov to Armenian law enforcement and that the whole investigation and court case be conducted within the RA justice system and according to the laws of Armenia.”

17:05, Gyumri

Protestors gathered in front of the Shirak marz district prosecutor's office are throwing coins in the directions of the building, where Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan is. The protestors are chanting, 'shame' 'shame.'

16:45, Gyumri

The residents of Gyumri have gathered once again at the Shirak marz district prosecutor's office and are demanding that Russian soldier Valery Permyakov be handed over to Armenian law enforcement bodies for the gruesome murder of the six members of the Avetisyan family on January 12. On January 14, the residents of Gyumri had issued an ultimatum to have this issue resolved by 17:00 on January 15.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan is suggesting a separate meeting with 20-30 of the protestors inside the prosecutor’s building to discuss all the issues, everything that took place today and to also answer questions about future progress of the case. The Prosecutor said that Armenian investigators since noon have been inside the Russian Military Base where they are interrogating Permyakov, which according to the Prosecutor means that he is found in the custody of the Republic of Armenia’s law enforcement.

Member of Parliament, Zaruhi Postanjyan: “This is not a song and dance, we all need to be alert. If Permyakov was apprehended jointly, where were the representatives of Armenian law enforcement officials? Handing Permyakov over to the Russians was illegal. I demand that Armenian law enforcement officials carry out their responsibilities; they are not carrying out their duties and are not protecting citizens of Armenia.”

16:06, Yerevan

CivilNet’s journalist reports that several protesters have been detained by the police in front of the Russian Embassy, including Tigran Khzmalyan, a member of the Preparliament civic initiative.

15:27, Yerevan

Around 100 people have gathered near the Russian Embassy in Yerevan. Another larger group is on the opposite side of the street from the embassy and yet another smaller group is one the sidewalk directly in front of the embassy. Police are trying to force the demonstrators across the street. The protestors are demanding that Russian soldier Valery Permyakov be handed over to Armenian law enforcement bodies, that he carry out his sentence in a prison in the Republic of Armenia and according to Armenian laws. Skirmishes are breaking out between police and demonstrators, who are holding banners which read "The Law is Above Imperial Ambitions," and "The Guilty Shall be Held Accountable.” Some of the demonstrators tried to burn the Russian flag, however they were prevented from doing so by police and others who are participating in the demonstration. Others had come with Russian flags, one of them placed the flag on the ground and stood on it.

14:39, Gyumri

“The military command and staff of the base are shocked by the terrible tragedy.” This is what Deputy Commander, Colonel Alexei Palyukhovich of the 102nd Russian military base said today about the murder of the six members of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri.

Deputy Commander, Colonel Alexei Palyukhovich of the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri.

“All of us together are mourning with our brothers, the Armenian people. We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the victims. The centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Russian people has been tested many times during the Turkish war and also during many terrible natural disasters. Now it’s of another trial. People who commit such crimes do not have a nationality. I assure everyone, that the person who carried out this horrible crime will bear the most severe punishment. Presently, investigation teams from the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation are implementing an objective and thorough investigation into this brutal crime. The military command will provide comprehensive assistance to the family of the victims. We are relying on your understanding and support. Only together, shoulder to shoulder will we be able to overcome any difficulty,” said Palyukovich.

13:40, Yerevan

Six-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan’s condition is critical but stable. He is the sole surviving member of his family. Seryozha continues to receive artificial respiration. His doctors have decided to reduce the volume of intravenous fluids. He is being monitored very closely by medical staff.

13:30, Gyumri

The funeral mass for the six members of the Avetisyan family at St. Nshan Armenian Apostolic Church has concluded; their bodies are now being taken to the cemetery. Thousands of people are following the funeral procession.

13:12, Yerevan

In Yerevan, several dozen citizens have gathered in front of the Presidential Palace. They are demanding that the Russian soldier Valery Permyakov accused of murdering the six members of the Avetisyan family be transferred to Armenian law enforcement bodies so that he is subjected to the Republic of Armenia’s laws and carry out his sentence in an Armenian prison. Police forces were out in strong numbers.

The protest was organized by members of the the Dem.am civic initiative.

The demonstrators stood for one minute of silence to honor the memory of the murdered victims.

Davit Manukyan of Dem.am told CivilNet that they are extending their solidarity to the people of Gyumri.

Referring to the press conference by Armenia’s Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan earlier in the day in Gyumri, Davit Manukyan noted that the statements made by the prosecutor were evasive. Manukyan said that the most important issue now is where will Permyakov carry out his sentence, even though the prosecutor had said that this was not a pressing principle for them.

The member of Dem.am said that they were protesting in front of the Presidential Palace and not the Embassy of Russia because their demands are directed toward Armenian authorities.

12:30, Gyumri 

Member of Parliament Nikol Pashinyan: "The state bodies are not working properly. We are asking questions of law enforcement bodies to receive answers, however, their answers simply make us ask more questions. However, we must force our officials to not talk to us in riddles."

Vahan Tumasyan, President of the Shirak Center NGO: “This will change the attitude of the residents of Gyumri towards the Russian soldiers. This incident will be what radically changes their psychology.The Russians must do much if they want their military base to continue to exist in Armenia. May God grant that this is the last horrific thing that happens because I am afraid that more bad things will happen;  the conjecture of what transpired seems to be a fairytale.”

Tatul Hakobyan: “Almost all of Gyumri is at St. Nshan Church.”

12:15, Gyumri

Final farewell in Gyumri at the St. Nshan Armenian Apostolic Church for the six members of the Avetisyan family will take place shortly. You can watch CivilNet's livestream on civilnet.am/live

10:30, Gyumri

Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan conducts press conference in Gyumri and makes the following statements:

“Permyakov’s punishment is a separate process and has no connection with the extradition of Hrachya Harutyunyan [H. Harutyunyan is the Armenian citizen who was responsible for the death of 12 Russian citizens in a traffic accident in Moscow - Editor].”

“The process of sentencing is something separate, and that will be determined by separate international regulations. Will he serve his sentence in the country of his citizenship or the country where the crime was committed? It is too soon to talk about this and it is not a huge issue of principle.”

“We are not talking about transferring anyone to anyone else’s jurisdiction. This is a false opinion that has been formulated. And the objective of the statement by the Prosecutor General’s office is to illustrate, that dear people, society, we in fact have to work within international legal regulations and taking into consideration that the current relations are regulated by a bilateral agreement, therefore we have the issue of comparing and applying the legislation of two separate states. And the laws of the Republic of Armenia cannot be absolutely applied because we have international agreements.”

“From a legal perspective, the severity of the crime has no weight within the framework of the agreement. The guilty party will be brought to justice on the territory of the Republic of Armenia and you will be witness to that and will be able to follow the criminal proceedings and the punishment to be exacted. I, as an Armenian and as the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, want to say that this is a pain for all of us; our entire law enforcement system is closing following this and we are doing everything and will do everything that the individual be punished on Armenian territory and this is definitive.”

“I assure you, that the individual will be subjected to the most severe punishment in accordance with the law.”

“The investigation will be realized by Armenian law enforcement bodies.”

“The important thing is which country’s legal jurisdiction the guilty party is found in.”