"Bloc of Shoushi Battalion Veterans" NGO has released a statement strongly criticizing the behavior of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.
"The horrible tragedy in Gyumri has shocked all Armenian people, however, the President and the spiritual leader of the country unfortunately remain indifferent to the tragedy.
Moreover, the President has even failed to address the people, to condemn the atrocity and to declare mourning. As regards the Catholicos, the impression is that his heart was unable to endure that tragedy and he has left this wicked world. If so, we cherish his memory. If it is not so, we have no longer a spiritual leader", the statement says.
The veterans also say that the Russian serviceman Valery Permyakov, who is suspected of murdering a family of six in Gyumri, should be transferred to Armenian law-enforcement bodies and the judicial proceeding should be conducted in Armenia.
"The authorities do their best to please the foreign forces and they are ready to commit any violence against their own citizens, including disabled persons, women, children, intellectuals and veterans. They are purposefully leading the country to colonization and slavery", say the authors of the statement. They add that one cannot stand such a behavior of the authorities any more.
To recall, a family of six was viciously murdered in Gyumri. The suspect is Russian serviceman Valery Permyakov, who is currently in the territory of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri. The residents of Gyumri are holding actions of protest and demand transferring Permyakov to the Armenian law- enforcement. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has made no statement yet and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II called on the people to keep calm only three days after the murder following the serious clashes in Gyumri and Yerevan.