Russian soldier pleads guilty to murder of Armenian familyJanuary 22, 2016 - 13:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The suspect in the Gyumri massacre, Russian soldier Valeriy Permyakov pleaded guilty to the murder. 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. The slayings led to numerous — and sometimes violent — rallies in Gyumri and Yerevan where the participants protested Russia’s military presence in the country, calling for Permyakov to be tried in Armenian courts rather than by Russian military judges. In August, a Russian military court found Permyakov guilty of desertion and sentenced him to 10 years in jail. The soldier pleaded guilty to charges of desertion with weapons, stealing firearms and ammunition, and illegally carrying weapons. However, the trial did not address the killings themselves, and Permyakov was handed to Armenian officials to face murder charges. On January 18, lawyers for the victims asked Judge Movsisyan to allow moving the location of the civilian trial to a regular Armenian court; the request, however, was rejected. Movsisyan also declined the lawyers’ call to excuse himself from the case, adjourning the trial until January 22. The lawyers had accused Movsisyan of acting under outside influence. Permyakov, who is being defended by a court-appointed lawyer, was directly asked twice if he would agree for the trial to be moved outside the Russian base. At first, Permyakov said the location of the trial made no difference to him. However, when asked the second time, he said he felt safer on the premises of the Russian base. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. 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. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |