Russian serviceman involved in Armenian family massacre may serve sentence in Russia

Valery Permyakov, the Russian military base serviceman who was sentenced to life in prison for the mass murder of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri, may be transferred to Russia – Eduard Aghajanyan, the convict’s lawyer, told Armenian mass media. “Theoretically speaking, Permyakov could be transferred to Russia,” said Aghajanyan.

Valery Permyakov is currently being held in custody at the 102nd Russian military base, where he had been serving before he committed the crime. According to Permyakov’s lawyer, the verdict against Permyakov has already taken effect, which means that the Armenian Justice Ministry should decide where he will be serving his sentence.

“Valery Permyakov was found guilty by both the Armenian and Russian courts. Thus, the Armenian Justice Ministry is now considering the issue of organizing his punishment,” Armenian media were told in the Justice Ministry. On 12 January 2015, six members of the Avetisyan family were murdered in Gyumri.

Valery Permyakov had left the premises of the 102th Russian military base without authorization earlier that day. He entered the house and shot dead 5 members of the Avetisyan family. Permyakov also stabbed a six-month-old baby, Serge Avetisyan, with a bayonet.

The baby was taken to hospital, where he died a week later. Valery Pemyakov pleaded guilty.