The trial date for a Russian soldier suspected of killing an Armenian family of seven has been set.
Sergei Sarumov, a spokesman for Russia's 5th garrison military court in Armenia, said on August 6 that 19-year-old Valery Permyakov will go on trial on August 12.
Permyakov, who served at the Russian military base in the northwestern Armenian city of Gyumri, will be tried by the Russian-jurisdiction court on charges of desertion with arms, stealing of firearms and ammunition, and illegally carrying weapons.
After that trial Permyakov will be handed over to Armenian officials to be tried on charges of killing seven members of an Armenian family in Gyumri.
On January 12, Avetisian family members -- including a 6-month-old baby boy and a 2-year-old girl -- were found dead or seriously wounded.
Permyakov was later caught and reportedly confessed to the killings.
The event sparked numerous violent protests in Gyumri and Yerevan demanding that Permyakov be handed over for trial by Armenia.
