YEREVAN. – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Friday issued a message of condolences on the crash of the passenger bus that was traveling from Moscow to capital city Yerevan

The Press Office of the President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that Sargsyan also gave several respective instructions to the Armenian state agencies.

“Dear Compatriots,

“I learned with great sorrow the news on the night accident with the bus travelling from Moscow to Yerevan which resulted in the loss of human lives and casualties. At this grave moment, I express my condolences and support to the families of the victims, their relatives and friends. I wish a speedy recovery to all injured,” reads the message of condolence by the President.

A short time after the accident, the relevant bodies reported to the President that early this morning, at 4.30am a major accident took place at the Beslan-Vladikavkaz highway. A bus traveling on the Moscow-Yerevan route and a truck collided. According to the preliminary data, five were killed and 27 injured. President Serzh Sargsyan instructed the Government of Armenia and the country’s embassy in Moscow to undertake urgent measures to provide necessary assistance to the victims and organize full-scale medical aid. He also instructed to provide necessary assistance to the families of those killed and injured. Relevant bodies in Armenia were instructed in a short period of time, together with the law enforcement bodies of the Russian Federation, to find out the causes of the accident and its circumstances, and provide a comprehensive report.

The President was also informed that representatives of the Armenian consulates in Rostov and southern Russia have already arrived at the crash site and, in cooperation with the relevant Russian agencies, are providing first aid to the injured.