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The first public discussion on the recent murder of the seven-member Avetisyan family kicked off in Armenia’s Gyumri city.

One of the organizers of the event, chairman of Asparez Journalists' Club Levon Barseghyan, said that more than 200 people - human rights activists, lawyers and concerned individuals - expressed a wish to participate in the debate.

The participants will sum up the information on the tragic murder, provided by journalists, lawyers and human rights activists, as well as will develop and coordinate the actions aimed at solving the crime and preventing similar crimes.

Six members of one family, including a two-year-old child, were shot dead in their house in Gyumri on January 12. A six-month-old baby was hospitalized with stab wounds. He died in hospital on January 12. Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian military base stationed in Gyumri, the main suspect in the murder, was detained by Russian border guards while attempting to cross the Armenian-Turkish border near Yerazgavors village in Armenia’s Shirak province. Permyakov is held in custody at the Russian military base. He was questioned and confessed to the crime. Permyakov is charged under Article 105.2 and 338.2 of the Russian Criminal Code (murder and desertion). Also, Armenian Investigative Committee brought a charge against Permyakov under Article 104 part 2 point 1 (murder of two or more persons) of the Armenian Criminal Code.