Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, convicted of the murder of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri, continues to serve his sentence, Armenia’s justice minister Srbuhi Galyan announced during a press conference Wednesday.

Responding to the question of what the Ministry of Justice of Armenia knows about Permyakov’s whereabouts, the minister said that respective inquiries are periodically sent to Russia, from where they receive confirmation that he continues to serve his sentence.

The aforesaid tragedy occurred on January 12, 2015. According to the indictment, Valery Permyakov, a soldier from the Russian military base in Gyumri, broke into the Avetisyans' house and shot dead the residents of the house, Aida Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan, Seryozha Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan, Araksya Poghosyan, and little Hasmik Avetisyan. He then he hit little Seryozha Avetisyan five times, and the child died seven days later in the hospital.

Permyakov explained his actions by saying that he wanted to get home to Russia.

He was found guilty on all counts of the charges: the murder of seven members of the Avetisyan family, robbery, and an attempt to illegally cross the border.

By the court's verdict, Valery Permyakov was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison for Gyumri family murder (PHOTOS)