YEREVAN. - The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, on Tuesday extended condolences in connection with the tragic crash—in Tula Oblast (province), Russia—of the passenger bus, which was en route from Moscow to Yerevan, and which claimed several lives and injured numerous others.  

“Our entire people, each and every one of us, suffered a great loss tonight. At this difficult time, I express my condolences and sympathy to the families, relatives, and friends of the dead. I wish a speedy recovery to all the injured,” Sargsyan’s message of condolence specifically reads.

In addition, the President gave several instructions to the relevant Armenian authorities.

In particular, Sargsyan instructed the competent law enforcement agencies to immediately launch the necessary legal procedures to find out the circumstances behind this road accident, and to collaborate with the relevant Russian authorities.

Serzh Sargsyan also instructed the competent Armenian agencies to submit a plan to substantially increase the safety level of interstate bus transportation from Armenia.

Furthermore, the Government of Armenia and the Embassy of Armenia in Moscow have been ordered to render the necessary assistance to the families of the dead and the injured, and to provide full medical assistance.

A passenger bus, which was traveling from Moscow to Yerevan, went off road for yet unknown reasons and overturned on Tuesday at around 3:08am, nearby Ilinka village in the Uzlovsky District in Tula Oblast, Russia.