Prosecutor General Says Permyakov Will Face Justice on "Armenian Territory"

Armenia's Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan said that the Russian soldier accused of killing six members of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri will face prosecution in Armenia.

As he was leaving the Presidential Palace on the evening of January 14, Kostanyan told reporters that the murders in Gyumri were a national issue that concerned all of the Armenian people. He said that the accused will face responsibility before the law on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The Prosecutor General also went on to say that Armenia is not ready nor has it ever conceded anything to anyone. “Armenia will be consistent in assuring that anyone who commits a crime against its citizen will bear responsibility,” Kostanyan said.

On January 13, the office of the Prosecutor General, referring to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, announced that it would not be possible to surrender Valery Permyakov, the accused Russian soldier, to the Armenian side.

In the early morning hours of January 12, Valery Permyakov who was stationed at the 102nd Russian Military Base in Russia, went AWOL and killed six members of the Avetisyan family who were asleep, including a two-year old child. The sole survivor of the tragedy was six-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan who is currently in hospital in critical condition. Later that day, following a manhunt, Permyakov was apprehended by Russian border guards attempting to cross the Armenia-Turkey border. Permyakov is now being held at the Russian military base.

Today, a requiem was held for the Avetisyan family in St. Nshan Armenian Apostolic Church in Gyumri. The residents of the city organized a car rally through the city. Several hundred vehicles descended on the Russian base, demanding that Permyakov be handed over to Armenian law enforcement.

The protesters issued an ultimatum, saying that they will gather again at the base on January 15 with the same demands. The District Prosecutor assured them that an official statement from Yerevan would be forthcoming.