DUSHANBE, January 14, 2015, Asia-Plus – A Russian soldier in Armenia has been detained in killing six members of a family in Gyumri, a city that hosts a Russian military base.
Russian media sources report that Private Valery Permyakov was detained by the Russian Federal Security Service”s border guards in Armenia on January 13, shortly after midnight, while trying to cross the border into Turkey dressed in civilian clothing. He was handed over to the commander of the Russian base.
Deputy Chief of Armenia”s police force, Unan Pogosian, reportedly said Permyakov confessed to the January 12 attack in which a couple, their son and daughter-in-law, a 2-year-old granddaughter, and an unmarried daughter were shot dead. The couple”s six-month-old grandson was stabbed but survived.
Investigative Committee officials said the suspect, Valery Permyakov, illegally left his unit in the morning. They said military boots with his initials had been found at the scene of the crime.
Armenian media sources report that the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office reported on Tuesday that it has discussed the case with the Russian Prosecutor’s Office, confirming that Permyakov will be tried by the Russian government and that he will not be extradited to Armenia.
“The perpetrator of the crime, Valery Permyakov, is a citizen of the Russian Federation and is under the control of the Russian law enforcement bodies,” a report from the two offices said. “Therefore, the issue of handing over Permyakov to the Armenian party is not subject to discussion in compliance with Article 61.1 of the Russian Constitution, which states that the citizen of the Russian Federation may not be deported out of Russia or extradited to another state.”
Russia reportedly has about 3,000 troops at the base in Gyumri, one of its largest military installations abroad.
Russia deployed a military base in Gyumri (northwest of Armenia) in accordance with the agreement between the two countries signed in 1995. The base is part of the unified air defense system of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). On August 20, 2010, Moscow and Yerevan have extended the agreement until 2044.
