The defendant, Permyakov, speaking in Russian, through an interpreter, confirms he is familiar with his rights and obligations and has no objections against his Armenian defense attorneys or other participants in the trial.
Sakunts called the judge's decision a violation of the Armenian law.
The judge rejected the petition, explaining that Valery Permyakov is a citizen of Russia and Russian servicemen ensure his security.
Lawyers repeat their petition for Russian military servicemen to be removed from the premises considered to be an Armenian court. (The Armenian trial of Permyakov is being held in the territory of the Russian military base in Gyumri).
Representatives of the legal successors of the victims had asked for information on Permyakov’s possible being a member of a Satanist sect in Russia to be provided to the Armenian side. They also consider making a petition for the trial to be transferred to the court of the general jurisdiction of Armenia’s Shirak province.
But members of the public appear to have "boycotted" the offer of following the trial from tents, considering that it is wrong to conduct the trial in the territory of the Russian base.
Representatives of the legal successors of the victims had asked for information on Permyakov’s possible being a member of a Satanist sect in Russia to be provided to the Armenian side. They also consider making a petition for the trial to be transferred to the court of the general jurisdiction of Armenia’s Shirak province.
Before the trial it was announced that there would be limited seating in the chamber. It was said that media and members of the public could also follow the trial on monitors from tents put up outside the garrison military court at the Russian military base in Gyumri.
Artur Sakunts, a leading Armenian human rights activist who represents the legal successor of the victims at the trial, made a petition for all people in [Russian] military uniform to be removed from the chamber. The judge said that the Russian military were also ensuring the security of the person being tried [Valery Permyakov]. The judge announced a break in the proceedings.
Legal successors (relatives) of the Avetisyan family and their representatives introduced themselves to the court. Russian citizen Valery Permyakov, a conscript who served at the Russian military base in Gyumri, is charged with murdering all seven members of the family on January 12. Among the killed were also a two-year-old girl and a six-month-old boy.