Author: Kanayan Tamar

Russia Today
Jan 18 2015

Putin calls Armenian president to express condolences over Gyumri tragedy

Published time: January 18, 2015 18:41

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called his Armenian counterpart,
Serzh Sargsyan, to once again express condolences over the killing of
an Armenian family of six in the city of Gyumri.

“Putin said he’s confident that the investigation will be completed as
soon as possible and the perpetrator will be punished,” presidential
press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

The Russian head of state also stressed that he hopes the Russian
doctors who arrived to Gyumri and their Armenian colleagues will
provide “the required high-quality medical assistance” to the only
survivor of the attack – sixth-month-old Sergey Avetisyan.

Putin also assured Sargsyan of Russia’s readiness to provide a medical
plane to deliver the injured baby to Moscow for further treatment if
needed, Peskov added.

READ MORE: Russian soldier in Armenia detained in mass killing of local family

According to the investigation, serviceman Valery Permyakov went AWOL
from Russia’s 102 Military Base in Gyumri on January 12.

The soldier is accused of making his way into a private home and using
an AK-47 to massacre a family of six, including a two-year-old child.

He was arrested by Russian border guards the same day as he attempted
to cross into Turkey.

READ MORE: Protesters demand Russian soldier’s trial in Armenia, clash
with police

During the interrogation, Permyakov said he wasn’t acquainted with the
Avetisyan family, and broke into their home to find alcohol.

The serviceman is to be prosecuted by a Russian court. There have been
massive rallies in Gyumri demanding that Permyakov face trial in
Armenia. About a dozen people have been injured in the demonstrations.

Focus News, Bulgaria
Jan 18 2015

Putin says he is confident Gyumri tragedy will be investigated promptrly

18 January 2015 | 16:41 | FOCUS News Agency

Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a telephone call to
his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sargsyan, to once again express his
condolences to relatives of those killed and to the entire Armenian
people over the tragedy in the city of Gyumri, Russian president’s
press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday, TASS reported.

“Putin said he was confident investigation will be held promptly and
those responsible will be brought to justice,” Peskov said.

On Monday, a soldier of the Russian military base in Armenia
identified as Private Valery Permyakov without permission had deserted
his post with arms and cartridges. Later on, he shot dead a local
family of six in their home in Gyumri. He was arrested on the same day
by Russian border guards while trying to cross Armenia’s border into
Turkey. The crime stirred public indignation in Armenia.

Focus News, Bulgaria
Jan 19 2015

Baby in Armenia family massacre blamed on Russian soldier dies

19 January 2015 | 18:36 | FOCUS News Agency

Yerevan. A six-month-old Armenian baby boy, the sole survivor from a
family of seven apparently gunned down by a deserting Russian soldier,
died from his injuries Monday, health officials said, as quoted by
AFP.

Seryozha Avetisian, the youngest member of the Avetisian family
massacred in their home last Monday in Gyumri, Armenia’s second
largest city, died at 5 pm, the health ministry said.

The baby boy had been in a grave condition after being stabbed several
times after six other members of his family were shot dead at their
home close to a Russian army base.

The crime has been blamed on a Russian soldier whose army boots and
Kalashnikov rifle were found at the scene.

The suspect, a conscript named Valery Permyakov, has been arrested by
a Russian military tribunal and is being held at the base after he was
captured at the Armenian border trying to flee to Turkey.

Thousands protested last week in Gyumri and capital Yerevan demanding
that Permyakov be handed over to Armenian justice, with the tragedy
threatening to become a major thorn in relations between Russia and
Armenia, its most loyal ally in the Caucasus.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian expressed his condolences to the
relatives of the Avetisians.

“We have lost him despite the continuous efforts of Armenian and
Russian doctors,” he said in a statement. “A light went out which was
the only solace for us after the Gyumri crime.”

“We must continue to live and gain just retribution for the pain and
the crime that has been committed,” he said.

Anticipating a new wave of public anger after the infant’s death,
Armenia dispatched more police to Gyumri to increase security next to
the Russian consulate and the Russian army base No. 102 where
Permyakov is being held, local media reported.

Sarkisian spoke about the case with Russian President Vladimir Putin
on Sunday and Putin for the first time expressed his condolences for
the tragedy.

“The Russian President expressed his assurance that all the
investigative procedures will be completed quickly and the
perpetrators will be punished,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

Police prevent Yerevan residents from paying tribute to memory of
Seryozha Avetisyan

by Tatevik Shahunyan
Monday, January 19, 20:29

Yerevan residents have been prevented from paying tribute to the
memory of Seryozha Avetisyan, six-month-old baby who was injured by
Russian soldier Valery Permyakov on Jan 12 and died in the hospital on
Jan 19.

Dozens of people gathered in Liberty Square so as to light candles on
the outer stairs of the Yerevan Opera House in memory of the deceased
child but the police did not let them do it. They said the melted
candles would dirty the stairway.

A family of six members was killed by Russian soldier Valery Permyakov
in Gyumri on Jan 12. The only survivor, six-month-old Seryozha
Avetisyan, died in the hospital on Monday.

°63EB60-A000-11E4-A6D20EB7C0D21663

Killed Armenian soldier awarded posthumously

13:54 | January 19,2015 | Official

Serzh Sargsyan today signed a decree to award posthumously contractual
soldier Arman Harutyunyan with the “For Service in Battle” medal.

According to the presidential press service, Harutyunyan was awarded
for ‘bravery and valor shown during the defense of the state border
and for fulfilling his military duties in life-threatening
conditions.’

Arman Harutyunyan, a resident of Voskevan border village in
northeastern Tavush province, was killed by Azerbaijani forces in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone on January 17.

Last light of the Avetisyan family went out today – Galust Sahakyan

20:08 | January 19,2015 | Social

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Galust Sahakyan has issued a letter
of condolences on the death of the little Seryozha Avetisyan.

“The last light of the Avetisyan family went out today. Unfortunately,
we were unable to save the infant. Let me offer my condolences to our
nation for the death of the six-month-old infant and wish everyone
strengthen and fortitude,” said Mr Sahakyan.

Geghard Monastery’s 3D model presented at Tumo

January 19, 2015 15:10
EXCLUSIVE

Within “CyArk 500 Challenge” project scanning engineer from the U.S.
Ross Davison traveled to Geghard on January 9-10 to create the 3D
version of the monastery, along with the students of the Tumo Center
for Creative Technologies.

CyArk 500 Challenge aims to collect 500 cultural monuments from around
the world and create their 3D models within next five years. Two years
have passed since its launch and over this time, 122 architectural
monuments have been scanned.

“A pleasant surprise was awaiting me in Armenia – the enthusiasm of
Armenian Children”

Ross Davison has been engaged in 3D scanning of architectural marvels
in the U.S., Great Britain, Ecuador, Jordan and Somali.

Ross Davison

Photo: Mediamax

In his interview with Mediamax, he spoke about the cooperation between
Tumo and CyArk, which started around a year ago.

“We have already implemented the program in various countries. Is
should be noted that at the initial stage people display great
enthusiasm, but when it comes to the work itself, everything gets a
bit complicated. In this regard, a pleasant surprise was awaiting me
in Armenia – the enthusiasm of Armenian children. It was quite cold
when we left for Geghard, but the children were working with so much
vigor that they had lost the feeling of cold”, he said.

The 3D modeled monuments are posted on CyArk’s website. In addition,
all the scanned models are preserved on special servers in
Pennsylvania, U.S.

Speaking about the selection criteria of the monuments, Ross stated
they guide themselves by the request they receive, which presents the
cultural value of that particular monument. According to Ross, CyArk
focuses on high-risk sites bearing great cultural value. It is the
followed by the fund-seeking process and afterward, 3D modeling works
start.

3D modeling of Armenian cultural heritage and passing it on to coming
generations

Technology Manager at Tumo Center for Creative Technologies Jirayr
Beugekian noted they are happy their program was a success and intend
to go on with it.

“We should purchase a USD 50.000-worth scanner, and as a long-term
project, perform the 3D scanning of the entire Armenian cultural
heritage to pass it on to the generations”, he stated.

Photo: Mediamax

The program costs roughly USD 100 thousand. USD 15.000 has been raised
owing to the fundraising held in order to purchase the 3D scanning
tool. According to Tumo Managing Director Marie Lou Papazian, the
fundraising will continue until they have the sum required for the
tool.
Tumo Managing Director Marie Lou Papazian

Photo: Mediamax

“A few years ago, Tumo Board Member Katherine Sarafian applied to us
introducing this interesting project. She wanted to have Tumo involved
in it by all means. Geghard Monastery is the second 3D modeled
monastery in Armenia – Tatev Monastery was the first. We are going to
collect around 10-12 monuments in the future to include them in the
list of CyArk 500 Challenge”, said Marie Lou Papazian.

“We were so interested in the work that the factor of the cold was
driven to the background”

Within the framework of the five-day program, the 12 students of Tumo
were divided into three groups – scanning, modeling and photographing.

Photo: Mediamax

“I had been in Geghard for thousand times but I had never taken notice
of the peculiarities I saw owing to this program. During the course I
realized that Geghard Monastery is not only part of Armenian but also
global historic heritage. It was very cold in Geghard but we all were
so much interested in the program that the factor of the cold was
driven to the background”, said one of participants Zhanna Gevorgyan.

Mane Gabrielyan from the modeling group stressed the importance of the
fund of knowledge they acquired from their mentor Ross during those
days.

“Before launching a certain piece of the equipment during works in
Geghard, he would firstly explain it in details. If we failed in doing
anything, he would show it to us and then ask to do the same. I hope
in the near future Ross will return to Armenia with a new program”,
she said.

By the way, Ross Davison left for Gyumri on January 16 and scanned the
Gyumri Theater. Marie Lou Papazian said that precisely this theater
will house Tumo in Gyumri.

Narine Daneghyan
Photos by Emin Aristakesyan

President Sargsyan offers condolences over the death of Seryozha Avetisyan

18:42, 19 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

President Serzh Sargsyan has expressed condolences over the death of
the six-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan, who died at St. Astvatsamayr
Medical Center in Yerevan today.

“We failed to save little Seryozha’s life. We lost him, despite the
efforts of skilled Armenian and Russian doctors. The light that was
the sole consolation after the Gyumri crime, which was leaving us room
to fill the irreversible, at least to some extent, faded away.
Unfortunately, we failed despite all possible and impossible efforts.

I offer my condolences to the relatives of the Avetisyan family, to
all residents of Gyumri, to the whole Armenian nation. Indeed, no
condolences will sooth the pain and make up for the loss, but we must
be strong. We have to find strength and endurance. There is no other
formula of living. We must live on and reach a just reprisal for all
this pain and this crime,” the President said.

H. Kharatyan: Putin’s statement means Permyakov to be tried in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement to the effect that Valery
Permyakov will suffer punishment prescribed by law means that he will
stand trial in Russia, ethnographer Hranush Hakobyan told reporters
today during a discussion of the tragic Gyumri incident and the
subsequent protests.

In her opinion, the presence of the Russian 102nd military base in
Gyumri and the criminal’s nationality are objective facts, and
naturally the issue was politicized.

Another participant in the discussion, painter Zaruhi Muradyan noted
that the protests in Gyumri helped the Armenian authorities save face
as their reaction in that situation was inadequate.

The chairwoman of For Sustainable Human Development NGO, ecologist
Karine Danielyan said for her part the policy of the Armenian
authorities, their reluctance to declare national days of mourning
caused a backlash and people’s indignation.

19.01.15, 17:29

Zarui Postanjan: The Russian party has been illegally keeping Valeriy
Permyakov under its jurisdiction

by Nana Martirosyan
Monday, January 19, 15:20

The Russian party has spirited away Valeriy Permyakov accused of
murder of the Gyumri family and has been illegally keeping under its
jurisdiction, a member of the parliament from the opposition Heritage
party, Zarui Postanjan, said at today’s press-conference.

She also added that according to the agreement that regulates the
relations between Russian frontier guards and the relevant bodies of
Armenia, the frontier guards did have a right to transfer a person,
which was trying to illegally cross the Armenian border, to the
Russian party. “So, the Russian party has been illegally keeping
Permyakov at the military base. According to the logic, the illegal
keeping of the alleged criminal is aggression regarding our country”,
– Postanjan said.

She thinks that the Guymri tragedy cast light upon the true core of
the Armenian-Russian relations. “The telephone conversation of the
presidents of Armenia and Russia as well as Vladimir Putin’s surface
condolences have shown the true core of Moscow’s attitude to its
strategic partner”, – she said. She also added that the authorities of
Armenia do not impersonate patriotism, as they were keeping silent
during all these tragic days for the people of Armenia.

She said that murder of the Avetisyans family was not implemented at
the domestic ground. “There is a more serious reason. Therefore, the
Russian party does not want to transfer Permyakov to the Armenian
party”, – she concluded.

As reported earlier, six members of the Avetisyan family–including a
two-year-old girl–were shot dead, and a six-month-old baby boy was
wounded in their house in Gyumri on January 12. Valery Permyakov, a
serviceman of the 102nd Russian Military Base in the city, stands
accused in this crime. Permyakov was apprehended by the Russian border
guards near the Armenian-Turkish border on the same night, and he was
arrested on January 14. Valery Permyakov is held in custody at the
Russian military base.