Victims' defence criticizes court decision on Permyakov's case

The advocates, who represent the interests of the successors of the Avetisyan family, massacred in Gyumri, are dissatisfied with the refusal to pay compensation for moral harm.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 19, the Armenia's Court of Appeal (CoA) upheld the verdict of life imprisonment for Valery Permyakov, the murderer of the above family. The CoA also dismissed the defence's complaint against the rejection by the first-instance court of the Shirak Region of the civil claim against Russia on compensation of moral harm.

Migran Pogosyan, an advocate of the successors of the massacred family, has noted in his comments to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that "he intends to appeal against the CoA's decision at the Court of Cassation," adding that, if the latter rejects his appeal, the defence successors will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

"Should the Armenian CoA have accepted the civil suit, the respondent in this part would have been only Russia; however, if it comes to the ECtHR, not only Russia will be brought to justice, but also Armenia for violating the Avetisyan family's rights," explained Pogosyan.

Lusine Saakyan, another victims' advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that "the point is not only to defend the interests of the successors of the Avetisyan family. Russia, which should be brought to financial responsibility, must realize that such soldiers like Permyakov should not take their military service in Armenia."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.