Soldier from Russian military base in Gyumri to be prosecuted by Armenian authorities

YEREVAN, June 29, /ARKA/. Valery Permyakov, a  soldier from the Russian military base in Armenia’s second largest town of Gyumri, charged with  killing a local couple, their daughter, son, daughter-in-law and 2-year-old granddaughter and stabbing  a 6-month-old baby boy, who died later in hospital; on January 12 this year, will be prosecuted  by Armenian law-enforcement authorities, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan’s press office said following his Friday meeting with Russian transport minister Maxim Sokolov in Yerevan.

Permyakov admitted murdering the entire family during his separate interrogations by Russian and Armenian law-enforcement officials. His motives remain still unclear.

‘Taking the opportunity, the president expressed his gratitude to Russia’s law-enforcement bodies, particularly the Office of the Prosecutor General for promoting effective collaboration with the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate the brutal crime committed in Gyumri in January this year. According to the president, the decision to transfer the criminal proceeding to the Investigative Committee of Armenia and its further trial by Armenia’s respective authorities certainly reflects the spirit of partnership and brotherhood, and fully corresponds with the provisions stipulated in the Armenian-Russian Agreement on the Status of the Russian Military Base in Armenia. At the same time, the president laid special emphasis on the fact that the Russian military base, located in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, is a vital component of our national security system,” Sargsyan’s press office said.

The Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri is part of the CIS united air defense system. In 2010 Russia and Armenia signed a protocol to extend the term of its deployment until 2044.  The base is equipped with S-300 aid defense missiles and MiG-29 fighters.-0--