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Another court hearing of Russian soldier Valery Permyakov case started at 12 noon in the premises of the Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri, Armenia. Permyakov, a former conscript of the Russian base, is charged with killing seven members of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri.   

The first court hearing of the murder case was held on December 18, 2015. Three court sittings have been held so far. Prior to the hearing on January 22, 2016, the lawyers of the aggrieved party (the legal successors of the Avetisyans) filed a motion to request certain documents from the Russian side. The lawyers said they did not know what investigative actions were previously taken so they decided to request the documents.

Lawyer Lusine Sahakyan said it became evident during the investigation that other cases should be opened based on the case. “Permyakov obviously has health problems so we ask you to contact the Russian side to determine if a criminal case was opened over his conscription into the army, provision of weapons to him, and responsibility of those responsible for his service,” she said. 

Another representative of the aggrieved party, human rights activist Arthur Sakunts said that the Russian side found Permyakov guilty of illegally taking weapons out of the military base. In the opinion of Sakunts, the fact that Permyakov left the base with weapons is directly connected with the murder of the Avetisyans. So they demand that the already investigated case be attached to the current one so they could understand what caused Permyakov to take the weapons and illegally leave the military base, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Judge Harutyin Movsisyan presiding over the hearing postponed the examination of the motion until the test results are received. 

To remind,  V. Permaykov was charged under the Armenian Criminal Code’s Article 104 part 2 points 1, 5, and 8 (contract murder of two or more people committed with cruelty, for mercenary motives, and combined with extortion, robbery or banditry), Article 175 part 2 points 3 and 4 (robbery committed after a break-in, with the use of weapons or other objects used as a weapon), and Article 34-329 part 1 (an attempt to violate the state border of the Republic of Armenia without the necessary documents or permission). Permyakov pleaded guilty to the charges, the Investigative Committee of Armenia reported.  A Russian garrison military court subordinate to the North Caucasian district military court held a hearing on August 12 in the Armenian city of Gyumri. The court sentenced Valery Permyakov to 10 years in high-security prison for desertion and theft of weapons. The murder case is being investigated separately by the Armenian side.