Russia, Armenia to Conduct Joint Investigation Into Gyumri Massacre

MOSCOW, January 20 (Sputnik) – Russian Investigative Committee chief Alexander Bastrykin and Agvan Ovsepyan, his Armenian counterpart, are conducting a joint investigation into the murder of a family in Armenia's Gyumri, committed by a Russian deserter, a Russian official said.

Bastrykin and Ovsepyan are taking joint efforts to carefully and extensively investigate criminal cases, opened in both countries, Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin said in statement. Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan has been informed that the suspect will face prosecution.

Earlier, Bastrykin announced that a public murder trial will be held in Armenia.

On January 12, a family of seven people was murdered in Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri. The main suspect in the case, soldier Valery Permyakov from the Russian 102nd Military Base located in Gyumri, was detained the next day. He later admitted committing homicide.

Armenia's Prosecutor-General said the case was under Russian jurisdiction, which caused a wave of discontent in Armenia.

On January 13, a series of rallies kicked off in the country, with protesters demanding Permyakov to be handed over to Armenian authorities and to close the Russian military base.