YEREVAN. – The decision on the criminal case, which has been filed into the murder of a family in Gyumri city, is based on political, and not legal, expediency.

Political analyst Sergey Minasyan said the aforementioned at a press conference on Wednesday adding that he does not believe in a participation by a third party.

The analyst clarified that the decision is as follows: The criminal case will be investigated in Armenia, but the perpetrator will not be handed over to Armenian law enforcement, and the investigation will be conducted at the Russian military base in Gyumri.

“There is the impression that this happened based on political expedience, and not realistic considerations. And this expedience is linked to the political, geopolitical, and politico-military importance of the 102nd Russian Military Base,” Minasyan noted, in particular.

In his view, it is clear that the presence of this military base in Armenia is a part of a multilevel strategic structure.

“Does Armenia have an alternative to Russia in this matter? I believe there is no possibility for more favorable politico-military relations at this time and in the foreseeable future.

“Unfortunately, there is no third party that wants to deploy a military base in Armenia.

“And in the case of NATO, we need to realize that Turkey, a country which is one of the most serious threats to our [, Armenia’s,] security, is a member in the organization,” the political analyst concluded.

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 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 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.” The Investigative Committee of Armenia also has launched a criminal case on these murders.