A 6-month-old baby who was the sole survivor of a brutal massacre allegedly perpetrated by a Russian soldier in Armenia last week has died of his injuries.
"Despite the efforts by top local and foreign doctors, we have failed to improve the child's vital signs. The child developed cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal failure, which led to his death," Armenia's Health Ministry said in comments carried by the Interfax news agency on Monday.
Six-month-old Serezha Avetisyan was the only member of his family to survive the deadly assault on Jan. 12, when a Russian soldier from a nearby military base allegedly shot the entire family dead while they slept.
The baby had suffered stab wounds and was hospitalized after the attack. The soldier, Valery Permyakov, faces murder charges for the seven deaths.
The harrowing incident triggered a major outcry in the town of Gyumri, where the victims were killed and where Permyakov had been living at a Russian military base. On Jan. 15, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to demand Permyakov be brought to justice in Armenia rather than at home in Russia.
At least 14 people were injured in the protest, and several people were detained.
