Armenian serving with Russian border guards found hanged
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 9 March 2015 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Armenian serving with Russian border guards found hanged, 9 March 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/550941a315.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 09, 2015
By RFE/RL's Armenian Service
GYUMRI, Armenia – An Armenian man who served with Russian border guards in the former Soviet republic has been found hanged after going missing.
Armenian media reports cited the Shirak regional prosecutor's office as saying on March 9 that Artur Afian's body was found behind a shop in the northwestern town of Gyumri, where the unit he served with under a contract is based.
Afian, 26, went missing on February 21.
Gyumri is the site of Russia's military base in Armenia, Moscow's main foothold in the strategic South Caucasus region.
A private from the base, Valery Permyakov, is accused of murdering seven members of an Armenian family in Gyumri on January 12.
The killings sparked large protests by Armenians demanding Permyakov be handed to their country for trial.
But Permyakov is in custody at the Russian base and will be tried there.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website