ETCHMIADZIN. – The Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, has expressed his concern with respect to the latest developments in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city.

Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin that the Catholicos chaired, on Friday at the Mother See, a consultation of the Monastic Council and the resident bishops.

At the meeting, a particular reference was made to Monday’s horrendous crime that was committed in Gyumri, the people’s ensuing unrest in the country, and the resultant unfortunate incidents.

“It is our expectation that all the offenders connected to the crime will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

“We are confident that the relevant state agencies will take all necessary steps provided by law to completely solve the crime and convict the guilty,” Karekin II specifically said in his remarks during the consultation.

As reported earlier, six members of the Avetisyan family—including a two-year-old girl—were shot dead, and a six-month-old baby boy was wounded in their house in Gyumri on Monday. 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, and he was arrested on Wednesday. Valery Permyakov 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.” The Investigative Committee of Armenia also has launched a criminal case on the murders.

The Prosecutor General’s Office had said Permyakov will face justice under Russian law, and this information provoked a wave of protests in Armenia, especially in Gyumri and capital city Yerevan.

The police had used special tools to disperse the crowd during Thursday’s clashes in Gyumri, and six police officers and nine civilians had sustained injuries during these clashes.