Trial of Russian soldier charged with murder of Armenian family continues in Gyumri
The trial of a Russian soldier charged with the murder of a seven-member Armenian family has resumed in Gyumri on the premises of a Russian military base. The court today heard Mikhael Khachatryan, the man who arrested Valery Permyakov, the 20-year-old Russian conscript, when the latter attempted to cross the Armenia-Turkey border after killing the Avetisyan family. Khachatryan said they noticed a lantern light on the border and coming up they caught Permyakov who was trying to cross the border. The trial continues, with the court hearing the witness. During the January 22 sitting, Permyakov pleaded guilty to all charges, including murders, robbery and an attempt to illegally cross the Armenian-Turkish frontier.According to the indictment,Permyakov had fired 28 shots, killing on the spot Aida Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan, Seryozha Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan, Araxya Poghosyan and Hasmik Avetisyan, and stabbed five times six-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan with the bayonet knife fixed to the rifle, damaging vital organs of the baby. The infant died in hospital seven days after the killing of his relatives.
