YEREVAN. – Ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Levon Martirosyan believes that the recent murder of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri city shall not cast a shadow over Armenian-Russian relations.
“A tragic incident occurred, and numerous theories are made; but the investigation shall give their answers. The investigation shall be conducted in the most efficient way,” Levon Martirosyan said at a press conference on Thursday.
Opposition Heritage Party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan, however, did not agree with the RPA deputy. He noted that Armenian-Russian relations do not exist.
“The Armenian authorities very quietly listened to Russia throughout these incidents. The subordination is apparent. The proof of this that [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan made an address of condolence [on this tragedy solely] after the telephone call by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.
“If Russia is to investigate the case, this will cause numerous questions and mistrust,” the opposition member specifically added.
As reported earlier, six members of the Avetisyan family—including a two-year-old girl—were shot dead, and a six-month-old baby was wounded in their house in Gyumri on January 12; but the baby boy died in hospital on January 19.
Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian Military Base in the city, stands accused in this crime. Permyakov was apprehended by the Russian border guards near the Armenian-Turkish border on the same night, he was arrested on January 14, and he is held in custody at the Russian military base.
The soldier is charged under Russian law, with “the murder of more than two people” and “desertion with a service weapon.” And on January 21, the Investigative Committee of Armenia also filed a criminal charge against Permyakov, and with “premeditated murder of two or more persons.” The Russian soldier has accepted the charge.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia had stated that Valery Permyakov will face justice under Russian law, and this information had provoked a wave of protests in Armenia, especially in Gyumri and capital city Yerevan, and with a demand that Permyakov be handed over to the Armenian law enforcement.