Armenian defense ministry spokesman praises commander of Russian military base in Gyumri

YEREVAN, January 20. / ARKA /. A spokesman for Armenian defense ministry Artsrun Hovhanisyan praised today the commander of the Russian military base deployed in the Armenian city of Gyumri saying under the command of Andrei Ruzinsky the cooperation between the military base and the armed forces of Armenia has reached a higher level and the combat capability of the military base has been improved significantly.

“We think he is a good commander,” Hovhanisyan told Novosti Armenia news agency.

On January 12, a family of seven people was murdered in Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri.  The main suspect in the case, soldier Valery Permyakov from the Russian 102nd Military Base located in Gyumri, was detained the next day when trying to cross into neighboring Turkey. He later admitted to committing the homicide.

Permyakov killed the boy's two grandparents, their son and daughter, a daughter-in-law, and a 2-year-old granddaughter with bullets from his AK-74 rifle at their home. The attacker used a bayonet to try to kill Seryozha who was in the cradle. The boy died yesterday at a Yerevan hospital.

The Russian military base is equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems S-300 and MiG-29 fighters. It has 4,500 troops.

In 2010 Russia and Armenia signed an agreement extended the deployment of the base until 2044. The original agreement was signed in 1995 for 25 years.

Asked whether Ruzinsky could be held accountable for the murder of the Gyumri family by Permyakov Hovhanisyan said: "I do not think he is responsible for the completion of the personnel, as this soldier (Permyakov) was sent to Armenia a month ago."

"Of course, military commanders are always responsible for their subordinates, however, they can not be held responsible for everything," the spokesman said.-0-