Armenian serving with Russian border guards goes missing
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Armenian serving with Russian border guards goes missing, 23 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/550941026.html [accessed 28 May 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. |
February 23, 2015
By RFE/RL's Armenian Service
GYUMRI, Armenia – Police said on February 23 that an Armenian serving with a Russian border guard unit in the city of Gyumri has gone missing.
Armenian police said that Artur Afian, a 26-year-old serving under a contract with the Russian border guards, has been missing since February 21.
They said he was given permission to leave his unit and visit relatives in a village near Gyumri but never showed up. He was unarmed.
Gyumri is the site of Russia's military base in Armenia, Moscow's main foothold in the strategic South Caucasus.
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
