Putin Vows Justice in Gyumri Family Massacre Case

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has called his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarkisian, to express his condolences over the killing of an Armenian family of six in the city of Gyumri.

“Putin said he’s confident that the investigation will be completed as soon as possible and the perpetrator will be punished,” presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

“Putin also expressed hope that the Russian doctors who have arrived in Gyumri and Armenian doctors would together provide all necessary high-standard assistance to six-month-old Seryozha Avetisian, who has survived that tragedy,” Peskov said. “The Russian president also assured his Armenian counterpart that, if necessary, Russia would be ready to send over a medical aircraft to bring the baby to Moscow for further treatment.”

A separate statement on the phone call issued by the Armenian presidential press service said Sarkisian and Putin stressed the need for “maximally close cooperation” between Russian and Armenian bodies investigating the killings. It said Sarkisian made clear that Armenian law-enforcement authorities will carry on with their efforts to “fully uncover all circumstances of the case.”