If the January 12 massacre was earmarked, then by whose command and why did it happen?
On August 12, in Gyumri, the Russian garrison Court commenced the trial of the Russian soldier Valery Permyakov in the territory of N 102 Military Base. He was found guilty of desertion, stealing firearms and ammunition, and illegally carrying weapons and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, in the corrective labor colony of a strict regime.
Note that the Russian side recently transferred the murdering case of the Avetisyan family to the Armenian side and the Russian garrison court was judging Permyakov for desertion, stealing firearms and ammunition, and illegally carrying weapons apostasy was making weapons, small arms, ammunition theft and illegal possession charges. The court reread Permyakov’s testimony, which revealed that on January 12, from 2:30 am to 3 am, Permyakov had picked up the gun, voluntarily deserted the military unit and has gone to Gyumri with an AK-74 rifle attached to him and with two ammunition belts, which had a total of 60 bullets. He explains his taking the weapon for intimidating someone with an intention of taking the money and other necessary items, which would help him to flee to Russia through Turkey. In other words, the weapon, according to the testimony, would be used in the case of necessity to be protected by shooting. Then, about 4 o’clock, he entered a random house where people were sleeping. They woke up, he was scared and began shooting, then threw the rifle away and fled. Permyakov confessed his guilt, but he refused to testify in the courtroom.
It appears that Permyakov wanted to escape from the military service, in addition, according to preliminary testimony, it became known that the military unit in Russia where he was serving, he had escaped eight times. After the verdict of the Russian side, Permyakov will take his punishment in the territory of the Russian military base in Gyumri until the end of the trial by the Armenian side. According to the lawyers, if there is an agreement to transfer the material and the proceedings to the Armenian side, then there is a further agreement that he should be present at the trial by the Armenian side as the RA legislation does not provide a trial without the presence of the convicted.
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Now, let’s turn to the questionings. Permyakov’s case consists of 72 volumes, but the trial lasted eight hours. Why? The trial of any other case with such a volume would take at least several months. What specifications could be made, what new circumstance could emerge if the trial were carried out more thoroughly? Why was it obviously agreed on to quickly finish the trial on the same day? What problems could arise if it had lasted longer? In general, judging from the photos made in the courtroom on August 12, Permyakov’s calmness in the process of determining his own destiny was very strange. It leaves the impression that it was not related to him at all, he even managed to sleep in the meantime. And on hearing the court verdict at the end of the trial, the satisfaction and smile expressed on Permyakov’s face was really weird. Next, in the preliminary testimony, the reason for entering Avetisyan’s family was explained by being thirsty and the desire to drink water.
Now, it turns out that Permyakov was bored of the military service, decided to flee his homeland, he has missed his homeland, has taken the weapon to intimidate those who would prevent him, but he appeared in Avetisyan’s family and killed the entire family. To the point, Permyakov’s reasoning “to be tired of” the service is not reliable, as the military officers of the base gave a positive assessment to Permyakov’s service, he did not have any problems in the unit, and a “tired” person would at least display a couple of disturbing practice and would lose the confidence in him. Now, either the officers do not tell the truth or Permyakov is lying saying that he was tired of the service. In addition, if he had deserted eight times, why a person with such a behavior is found in the Russian military base in Gyumri. As for the reporting that he had the intention to cross the Turkish border, here, the Armenian side has a work to do to bring him to responsibility by a criminal article for the attempt to cross the border illegally.
The investigation revealed that Permyakov was not found under the mental effect and was in the normal state of consciousness, he, generally, is healthy. In other words, as a perpetrator, he was quite sober and has done everything being in the state of consciousness. Consequently, what is the motive for such a brutal murder, including not sparing the two little children? And, ultimately, if he was not found to be in mental effect, was he able to kill seven people alone by shooting?
The Armenian side so far has no right to be acquainted with the materials of the investigation, and on August 12, they were published partially and selectively. The sections that could be interesting for the Armenian side were not read. The translations of the case transferred to the Armenian side are not yet completed, after the translation is completed, it would be possible to get acquainted with them and study thoroughly. The questions are truly a lot, and the Armenian side is obligated to find the answers to them. Nothing will relieve the sorrow of the relatives and friends of the Avetisyan family, and not only they but also the whole society are waiting for revealing the circumstances of this crime in Gyumri.
On August 12, the first impression from the a few-hour trial of Permyakov’s case was that Permyakov’s connection to this brutal killings is questionable. He either is a cold-blooded murderer, or a talented actor, who was demonstrating a cynical condescending attitude in the courtroom. And if the Avetisyan family members’ killing was earmarked, then, by whose command and why has the January 12 massacre happened?
EMMA GABRIELYAN
