Opinion: Seryozha Avetisyan might have known Permyakov (video)
Vova Vardanov, Founding Commander of the first sabotage and reconnaissance detachment in Armenia, sees obscure circumstances in the behaviour of Valery Permyakov, the Russian soldier accused of the slaughter of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri. First, the soldier, who had served at the Russian military base in Gyumri for several months, could not know the area as well as to find his way to Avetisyan’s house so easily. Second, Mr Vardanov cannot understand why Permyakov should have ‘chosen’ this family and thinks they might know each other. He says such a brutal crime could have been committed either by a madman or it was plotted in advance: there is no coincidence. “It is not clear how it happened that no one heard the sound of Kalashnikov-model rifle,” he stressed. At the same time, the intelligence agent condemns the anti-Russian actions in Armenia and the appeals to withdraw the Russian troops from the country. “We are to blame ourselves for our dependence from Russia. Do not think that Russia ns are the apple of my eye but today we cannot get along without them,” said Vova Vardanov. “I do not exclude that some may call me a traitor after these statements but I see the need for the Russian military base in Armenia.” Seryozha Avetisyan, his wife Hasmik, daughter Aida, son Armen, daughter-in-law Araksya, and two-year-old granddaughter Hasmik, were murdered in their home on January 12. Only a six month old boy survived, and was hospitalized with stab wounds. But he died in hospital a week later. Valery Permyakov, a Russian soldier stationed at Russian military base N102 in Gyumri was arrested on January 12 when attempting to cross Armenia's border with Turkey. He has confessed to the murders.
