The Investigation Committee of Armenia has issued a press release presenting in detail the steps being taken in the investigation into the murder of six members of the Avetisyan family and the attempted murder of their six-month-old infant Seryozha Avetisyan in the country’s second largest city Gyumri.
The press release states that investigators are presently in Gyumri where specialists, in addition to other measures, have conducted an additional examination of the crime scene on January 16.
The investigation team has run material, biological, forensic, ballistic and chemical tests at the crime scene.
“Appropriate police divisions have been tasked with determining if video cameras were situated near the crime scene in order to disclose and make available any video footage to the investigation team.
“Incoming and outgoing phone calls from mobile phones belonging to the members of the Avetisyan family have been requested from the mobile phone operator to examine conversations; there are sufficient grounds to suggest that the accused might have stolen and used the mobiles of the victims.
“Measures are being taken to determine the apparent path of escape of the Russian soldier after committing the crime, the circumstances of his capture, his movement following his departure from the Russian military base to the Avetisyan family’s residence.
“Taking into consideration the public’s interest, it has been revealed that the accused was able to enter the Avetisyan home by breaking the window on the door of the entrance of the home.
“As a result of the inspection of the crime scene and other additional examinations, 28 shells, two unused bullets, one cartridge, an AK-47 rifle and Russian military fatigues were discovered in the residence,” the statement reads.
In the early morning hours of January 12, six members of the Avetisyan family were shot in their home and their six-month-old infant Seryozha Avetisyan was stabbed. The accused is Russian soldier Valery Permyakov stationed at the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri. Permyakov was apprehended by Russian military personnel trying to cross the Armenia-Turkey border. He is currently being held in custody at the Russian base. On January 14 and 15 protests took place in Gyumri and Yerevan demanding that the accused be handed over to Armenian authorities and to stand trial in an Armenian court.