Major General Vladimir Usitnov is appointed as new Commander of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia.
Earlier, the Russian co-chair of the ad hoc committee set up in the parliament after the murder of the Avetisyan family said the new commanded of the military base has taken the office. However, did not name the commander.
A family of six was killed by Russian soldier Valery Permyakov in Gyumri on Jan 12. The only survivor, six-month- old Seryozha Avetisyan, who received stab wounds, died in hospital on Jan 19. On 14 January Armenian Prosecutor General's Office reported that they did not discuss the issue of handing over of Permyakov to the Armenian party, as according to the Russian legislation, a Russian citizen cannot be handed over to another country. But after numerous protest actions near the 102-nd Russian military base in Gyumri and the meeting at the president's residence, Armenia's Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan said that the investigation of the case will be held according to the legislation of Armenia and Russia through comparing the legislative acts of the two countries. He emphasized that the criminal will be imprisoned at the territory of Armenia and the process will be transparent in order to avoid public resonance.
Permyakov is charged with murder of two and more persons and armed desertion. After the incident, Commander of the base, Colonel Andrey Rudzinsky left his post.