The reason why Valery Permyakov, the soldier of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia, deserted and murdered the family of seven persons in Gyumri was longing for home. This is how Permyakov explained his actions during the investigation.
These testimonies were read out at the court hall at today's trial, as Permyakov refused to give any testimonies or answer questions at the given stage of the trial.
In his testimonies Permyakov said he decided to leave his post, find money and cloths to leave home. So, on January 12, he left his armor at the post, cut the fence wire with his knife-bayonet and started walking along the street to rob a passer-by. He noticed an open gate, knocked at the door, waited for about 5 minutes in front of the open door, removed the glass with the knife-bayonet, released the safety catch, entered the house and drank some water.
Permyakov insists that he took civilian cloths from the wardrobe and changed his uniform. He took three mobile phones and money from women's bag and left. He went towards the Armenian-Turkish border. There was a building near the border where he spent a few hours before frontier guards detained him. Permyakov said that before conscription, he did not suffer any mental diseases, was not taken either to the Police or to a mental clinic. Permyakov acknowledged that he uses marihuana but feels no addiction.
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. Permyakov voluntarily left his post and committed the above murder. The reasons of the massacre are not known yet.