Armenian family murderer gets 10-year sentence on military charges

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian military court has sentenced a soldier accused of killing an Armenian family of seven to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to lesser charges, RFE/RL reports.

The 5th Garrison military court in Armenia announced the sentence on Wednesday, Aug 12 after the soldier, 19-year-old Private Valery Permyakov, pleaded guilty to charges of desertion with weapons, stealing firearms and ammunition, and illegally carrying weapons.

Permyakov is to be handed to Armenian officials for trial on charges of killing the members of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri, the city in northwestern Armenia where Russia's 102nd Military Base is located, in January. The Russian trial did not address the killings themselves.

Permyakov sat impassively as the judge read the sentence. As the courtroom cleared out, he put on his camouflage cap and turned his face to the wall.

According to the RIA Novosti news agency, Permyakov told the military court he was tired of serving in the army and broke into the Armenian family's home with the intention of robbing them to finance a trip back to Russia.

The victims included a couple, their daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and a 2-year-old granddaughter, who were found dead in their home on January 12, and a 6-month-old grandson who died of his wounds a week later.

The date for his trial in an Armenian court has not been set.