20:06, 24 December 2018

Representatives of Gukasyan family demand to transfer a Russian soldier to Armenia

Russian military base in Gyumri. Photo by the press service of the Radio Azatutyun (RFE/RL)

The request to transfer a Russian soldier suspected of killing Julietta Gukasyan in Gyumri to a penitentiary institution of Armenia has been transferred to an investigator, report representatives of a killed woman's daughter.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that 57-year-old Julietta Gukasyan died in hospital after being beaten on December 3. After the murder, a Russian soldier was detained. Armenia has handed him over to the Russian side, and he is being kept under arrest at the 102nd military base.

The Armenian General Prosecutor's Office has explained the transfer of the defendant to the Russian side by the need to comply with the laws of Russia and the agreement on the military base in Gyumri. The Armenian opposition has stated the fact that the defendant is being kept at the Russian military base means the primacy of the Russian laws in Armenia.

The Russian soldier who has committed a crime in Armenia should be under the jurisdiction of the Armenian law enforcement bodies, and not at the Russian military base, notes Araik Zalyan, who represents the interests of the Julietta Gukasyan's daughter.

In the period from 1999 to 2015, at least 11 Gyumri residents died in incidents involving Russian soldiers. After the murder of Julietta Gukasyan, local residents demanded to tighten control over Russian soldiers.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 24, 2018 at 12:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent