GYUMRI MURDER CASE: RELATIVES OF SLAIN FAMILY SUSPICIOUS OF RUSSIAN-LED INVESTIGATION

ANALYSIS | 17.04.15 | 11:05

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has published information about
expert conclusions in the high-profile murder case in Gyumri where a
Russian soldier allegedly gunned down a seven-member Armenian family
in January.

The results of the examinations provided little news. One of the few
remarkable statements is that all bullets found in the house of the
Avetisyans were fired from the submachine-gun belonging to Valery
Permyakov, a 19-year-old conscript at the Russian base stationed in
Gyumri. Also it was established that the submachine-gun allegedly
used by Permyakov had no muffler.

The mass murder appears to be one of the obstacles in the way of
traditionally friendly Armenian-Russian relations. Russia refuses
to transfer the accused to Armenian justice. At the same time, the
Armenian side does not seem to be doing enough – at least as it appears
to the Armenian public – to secure Permyakov’s handover. This situation
is perceived negatively by most members of the Armenian society.

Judging from the actions of the Armenian and Russian sides, there
is some sort of agreement about the maximum possible concealment of
the circumstances of the high-profile crime. Two criminal cases have
been instituted on the same case – by the investigative committees
of Russia and Armenia.

It is remarkable that in the case instituted by the Russian
Investigative Committee the victim is the Republic of Armenia. By
the Armenian case, the victims are the Avetisyan family and their
legal successors.

Armenia’s leading human rights activist Arthur Sakunts finds it
odd that the legal successors of the Avetisyan family do not figure
as a party in the case investigated by the Russian side. Moreover,
it is not known whether there is an accused party in the case being
investigated by the Armenian side, as Armenian investigators have no
possibility to interrogate Permyakov who is kept at the Russian base.

Meanwhile, it is most likely that the real trial will be based on
the criminal case being investigated by the Russian side.

However, as things stand now, it is unlikely that anyone will really
represent the Avetisyan family at the trial by the Russian court and,
accordingly, the victims’ relatives will not have an opportunity
to ask questions to Permyakov even in the court-room. Meanwhile,
there appear to be a lot of questions to be asked. Relatives of the
Avetisyans have long harbored suspicions that Permyakov acted not
alone, but had accomplices and that the investigators hide something.

Lawyers say that the Russian and Armenian side could have some secret
agreement to hide some of the true circumstances of the crime and
“isolate” the relatives and lawyers of the victims’ legal successors
so that they could not ask questions during the trial. Lawyers and
human rights activists argue that even if the Armenian side fails
to get Permyakov’s handover to Armenian justice, it should seek the
involvement of the Avetisyans’ legal successors as a party in the
case being investigated by Russia.