Gyumri massacre: Permyakov’s verdict due on Aug 23August 19, 2016 - 15:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The verdict of Valery Permyakov, the Russian soldier who fled a military base in Gyumri, Armenia and killed seven members of the Avetisyan family on January 12, 2015, will be announced on August 23 at noon. At a session in the Court of First Instance of Shirak province, Permyakov’s lawyer, Eduard Aghajanyan delivered a defense speech. Permyakov, meanwhile, rejected a last word chance. At an earlier session on August 12, the prosecuting attorney demanded a life term for the accused. The legal successors of the brutally murdered Avetisyan family have filed a complaint against Russia with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Six members of the Avetisyan family, including a 2-year-old girl, were found dead on January 12, 2015, in their home in Gyumri. All the victims were shot or stabbed; a 6-month-old boy, stabbed in the attack, died of injuries a week later. Permyakov, who was 18 at the time of the killings, was detained near Armenia’s border with Turkey after fleeing the Russian base. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |