Gyumri protestors demand resignation of Armenia's prosecutor general

Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, appeared before protestors outside the Shirak prosecutor’s office in Gyumri and declared that their demand that the Russian soldier accused of killing six members of the Avetisyan family on January 12, was justified.

“We will demand that they hand over the criminal to Armenian law enforcement. Here, on both sides, stand Armenians. The object of our demand isn’t here,” said Ajapahyan.

Protestors stated that there demand was of the Armenian authorities.

Archbishop Ajapahyan then entered the building to discuss the matter, which has become the rallying cry of thousands, with Armenia’s Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan (see photo).

The archbishop reappeared shortly afterwards and told the crowd that he believed that Kostanyan would do everything to see that the accused, Valery Permyakov, is handed over but that time was needed.

The vociferous crowd, upon hearing this, chanted “it’s a lie” and demanded the resignation of Kostanyan.

The prosecutor general was thus obliged to meet with protestors, telling them he would relay their demand to the general prosecutor of Russia.

“When we receive a refusal, we will discuss our future steps. The investigators are at the military base. They are carrying out their work, but I will definitely petition them on the matter,” Kostanyan told the crowd.