Gyumri murder: Permyakov given 10 years

The Southern Military District’s Fifth Garrison Court convicted Valery Permyakov for desertion and illegal possession of weapons.

Permyakov pleaded guilty at the trial on Wednesday, admitting that he was ready to serve the sentence.

The hearing was presided over by Alexander Sheldyaev, the acting chaimran of the Russian military court.

Permyakov faced charges under the corresponding provisions of the Russian Criminal Code.

The prosecution of the murder case will be carried on by an Armenian court.

Six of the seven members of the Avetisans’ family were found stabbed to death in their house early in the morning on January 12. The only surviving member, a six-month-old infant who was hospitalized immediately with stab wounds, died in a Yerevan clinic a week later. Forensic-medical expertise was assigned later as part of the probe into the tragic incident.

Permyakov, who was the key suspect in the murder, was caught by Russian defense guards while trying to cross the Armenia-Turkey border later the same night. He was handed over to the command of 102nd Russian Military Base.