Crowds gathered in Armenia’s second largest city on Thursday after the funeral of the six family members killed on Monday. Russian solider Valery Permyakov is the key suspect in the murder. The solider allegedly gunned the family down with an AK-74, in what is believed to have been a crime of passion.
MORE: Several people reportedly injured in clashes outside Russian Consulate in #Gyumri, #Armeniahttp://ift.tt/1CbZ5xy
— RT (@RT_com) January 15, 2015
The protesters – who came “in thousands” according to local media – marched from the Prosecutor General’s Office to the embassy, and then began hurling stones and bottles at police.
Police responded with stun grenades, witnesses reported on Twitter. Live footage also showed smoke rising from the crowd.
police used grenades,protesters threw stones, there are wounded people #Gyumrihttp://ift.tt/1CbZ6Si
— Mesrop Andranikyan (@MesAndranikyan) January 15, 2015
Several people were injured and detained during the clashes as protesters attempted to storm the Russian embassy and break through police barricades, according to activists on Twitter. The reports have not yet been confirmed.
clashes between police and protesters in #Gyumri#photohttp://ift.tt/1CbZ6Sn
— Iza Bel (@samayaiza) January 15, 2015
The Russian ambassador to Armenia, Ivan Volynkin, said in a statement on Thursday that the murder investigation will be objective. He also expressed his condolences to the family of the victims.
READ MORE: Russian soldier in Armenia detained in mass killing of local family
“There is no justification for this atrocity. All of the embassy staff share the pain of this loss with the brotherly people of Armenia and mourn along with them,” he said in a statement.
“The criminal will punished to the full extent of the law,” he added. “Russian and Armenian authorities are collaborating on an investigation.”
Police in Armenia fire grenades towards a crowd who protested the murder of a family by #Russia serviceman. #Gyumrihttp://ift.tt/1ziXMzG
— paralel universe (@ignis_fatum) January 15, 2015
source RT - Daily news http://ift.tt/1ygMXxW
