YEREVAN. – We need to thank sincerely to the Russian doctors for rendering assistance to the Armenians who were injured in the Moscow-Yerevan bus crash in Tula Oblast (province) [in Russia].   

The Minister of Health of Armenia, Armen Muradyan, on Friday noted the above-said at the National Assembly.

In his words, renowned Armenian and Russian physicians conducted joint efforts to help these victims.

“Before our arrival [in Russia], our Russian colleagues had provided help in a professional manner, with no less humanity,” Muradyan stressed.

The minister thanked the Russian health agencies, and the authorities, in general, for the organized work.

He also extended his gratitude to the Russian Armenian community, for its relief efforts in the first hours of this tragic road accident.

“The Russian side has covered all the [respective] costs made in Russia, and the Armenian side—in Armenia,” Armen Muradyan added.

Eight people were killed and several dozen others were injured as a passenger bus, which was traveling from Moscow to Yerevan, crashed on Tuesday at around 2:10am local time, in Russia.

Russia has opened a criminal case into this bus crash, and on charges of “breaking the road traffic and vehicle operation rules.” A similar case has been filed in Armenia, too.

According to preliminary data, the bus driver, Garnik Harutyunyan, had fallen asleep at the steering wheel.

Harutyunyan is under arrest.