SHOCK AND QUESTIONS: GYUMRI MOURNS MURDERS AS IT LOOKS FOR REASONS
SOCIETY | 13.01.15 | 15:16
Alina Nikoghosyan
ArmeniaNow intern
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Gyumri mass murder suspect arrested
A makeshift vigil has appeared in front of the home of the Avetisyans
in Gyumri following six murders that occurred there, shocking residents
of Armenia’s “second city”.
Seryozha Avetisyan, his wife Hasmik, daughter Aida, son Armen,
daughter-in-law Araksya, and two-year-old granddaughter Hasmik, were
murdered in their home Monday. Only a six month old boy survived,
and is hospitalized with stab wounds.
Valeri Permyakov, a Russian soldier stationed at nearby base No. 102
has been arrested and has confessed to the murders.
Permyakov was caught “as a result of joint measures” taken by the
Russian border guards and Armenian security forces.
Russian investigators will lead the criminal investigation into
the case.
The extraordinary crime created unease in Gyumri yesterday until
the suspect was caught. Today the situation is comparatively calm,
Gyumri-Asparez daily Editor Levon Barseghyan said.
“Because the Russians are investigating it is possible we and even
the Armenian government are not privy to some details.
Yesterday Russian soldiers with rifles on their shoulders were
searching for a criminal in the streets, and, by international
agreement, they do not have such rights unless there is a direct
danger threatening their families or crews. The whole point was to
find him first,” Barseghyan told ArmeniaNow.
It is not the first case when the Russian military base has been
connected with a major crime in the city.
In 1999 Gyumri was shocked when on April 14 two Russian servicemen
of the Russian garrison border guards stationed at the base, Denisi
Popov and Alexander Karmenev, left the base and opened fire randomly
in Gyumri’s central market, killing 44 year-old Vaghinak Simonyan
and 57-year-old Davit Soghomonyan.
On April 7, 2013 two children were killed by a mine as they were
reportedly playing in the base’s tank shooting range.
Monday’s shocking multiple murders have caused a wave of anti-Russian
sentiment among some residents. Many have voiced anti-Russian feelings
on Facebook. Others, however, say that the nationality of the killer
or of the killed has no bearing on why it happened.
In Gyumri, and indeed throughout Armenia, many wait for answers as
the investigation has begun.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2015/01/13/shock-and-questions-gyumri-mourns-murders-as-it-looks-for-reasons/
