6-Month-Old Survivor of Gyumri Tragedy Succumbs to Injuries, Despite Medical Efforts

YEREVAN (A.W)—The six-month-old survivor of the Gyumri massacre died at the St. Astvatsamayr Medical Center on Jan. 19, according to Armenia’s Ministry of Health. The infant’s health had declined, despite efforts by medical professionals to save his life.

The child, Seryozha Avetisyan, had been hospitalized with stab wounds to the chest, following a brutal attack on his family that left six members of his family dead, including his two-year-old sister. The suspect, Valery Permyakov, an 18-year-old deserter from the Russian military base in Gyumri, allegedly attacked the family while they slept.

The victims have been identified as Seryozha Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan, Araksya Avetisyan, Aida Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan (two years old), and Seryozha Avetisyan (six months old).

According to Sona Truzyan, a spokesperson of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, the suspect’s boots bearing his name and surname, along with an AK 74 rifle and bullet shells, were found at the crime scene.

“The infant was found on the mother’s dead body. The perpetrator probably thought he was dead, although he had been breathing. The child was hospitalized late. He was in shock, cold, and almost bloodless,” head of Gyumri’s Australian hospital, Ashot Kurghinyan, was quoted as saying by Armenpress. Doctors believed, the child had been saved by a miracle, and were hopeful about his recovery. The infant had been transferred from Gyumri to Yerevan, where a group of Russian medical experts were working, alongside their Armenian counterparts, to save his life.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly phoned Armenian President Serge Sarkisian to express his condolences on the passing of the six-month-old survivor, as well as the other victims, and said he was confident that a “comprehensive and efficient investigation” would be carried out and those responsible would be punished by law, according to local media.  A day earlier, in a phone call to his Armenian counterpart, Putin had offered to send a plane equipped with medical gear to transport the child to Moscow for treatment, reported Armtimes. However, according to the hospital’s medical staff, moving the child to another room—let alone to another country—was impossible due to the severity of his condition.

A manhunt took place following the massacre, which led to the apprehension of the suspect who was reportedly attempting to cross the Armenian-Turkish border. The suspect is said to have confessed to the crime; the motive remains unknown, though there are suggestions that he might have had mental health issues. He is currently in the custody of Russian officials at the base, where charges—of “murder of more than two people” and “desertion with a service weapon”—have been leveled against him under Russian law, reported sources. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has also opened a criminal case against him. According to the police, Armenian authorities, together with officials from the Russian base, are conducting an investigation of the crime.

After initial statements by the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office suggested that Permyakov would face Russian law,  a wave of protests erupted, with thousands of demonstrators in Gyumri and Yerevan demanding that Permyakov be handed over to Armenian authorities and be prosecuted in the country, as they fear Russia will fail to carry out a fair trial. Some protests ended in violence, with 33 injuries reported in Gyumri.

Protesters say that Russian officials are bound by a 1997 bilateral treaty to hand over the suspect, since the crime was committed off base. However, it is feared that since the suspect is labeled a “deserter,” his fate will be decided by Russian officials. Under mounting pressure, Armenia’s Prosecutor-General Gevorg Kostanian has promised to ask his Russian counterpart that the suspect be transferred to Armenian custody.

On Jan. 19, Shirak Governor Feliks Tsolakyan urged the public to remain calm. “I hope [that] and call upon the Gyumri residents not to be guided by emotions, since both our[—Armenian—] law enforcement and the Russian law enforcement are doing everything to solve the case. We cannot drive a wedge between the two countries because of a monster. We need to let the investigation find out what happened,” he was quoted as saying by News.am.

On Jan. 12, the Russian Embaassy in Armenia issued a statement expressing shock and assuring the public that the perpetrators would meet justice. “We mourn with the Armenian people. We offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims. The perpetrators of this vicious crime should be given the most severe punishment,” read the statement, an assurance that was echoed in the televised words of Aleksei Polyukhovich, deputy commander at the Gyumri base.

Vigils for the victims have been held in various Armenian communities in the Diaspora, from Tbilisi to Los Angeles. On Jan. 19, a candlelight vigil was held in Yerevan’s Liberty Square, despite initial efforts by police officers to block the vigil, reported Armtimes. Similarly, a vigil was held outside the home of the Avetisyans, where locals lit candles in the memory of the victims.