Citizens of Armenia’s city of Gyumri today held a candlelight vigil in the yard of city’s Holy Mother of God Church in memory of the one-year anniversary of the tragic murder of the Avetisyan family.

Several dozens of citizens lit candles in front of the photos of the killed family for the peace of their souls.

Prior to this, liturgy was held at the church in memory of the Avetisyans. Apart from the relatives, the liturgy was also attended by members of Armenia’s opposition “Heritage”party Zaruhi Postanjyan and Armen Martirosyan.  

At 1:00pm, a requiem service in memory of the slain Avetisyan family was offered at the Gyumri municipal cemetery.

Six members of the Avetisyan family—including a two-year-old girl—were shot dead, and a six-month-old baby—Seryozha Avetisyan—was wounded in their house in Gyumri on January 12, 2015; but the baby boy died in hospital one week later.

Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian Military Base in the city, is charged with these murders.

Armenia and Russia instituted criminal cases on charges of murder and military desertion, respectively.

On August 12, the Russian court sentenced Permyakov to ten years in prison.

And on October 16, Armenia formally brought criminal charges against the Russian soldier.

The respective trial began on December 18. The court hearings, however, are taking place in the Russian military base.