Russian soldier to stand trial for family massacre in Armenia

A Russian soldier accused of murdering seven members of an Armenian family will be court martialled in a Russian military base, local media reported Monday.

Competent Armenian and Russian authorities made the decision to try Valery Permyakov within the framework of a bilateral agreement on the 102nd military base in Gyumri, Armenia's second largest city, according to the Panorama news portal.

A joint investigative group is working on an indictment that corresponds to the legislation of the Russian Federation, the report said.

In addition, materials collected by Armenian investigators will be handed over to the Russian side for attaching the case to armed desertion and mass murder.

On Jan. 12, Permyakov deserted from the Russian military base and killed seven members of an Armenian family in Gyumri, including a six-month-old baby.

After the cruel mass murder, the conscript was captured at the Armenian border when he was trying to flee to Turkey. Under Russian law, he could face a maximum punishment of life in prison if convicted. Enditem