No Playgrounds, Cafes, and Other Food Points in the Zoo

The Yerevan Zoo will start its new season on May 1, but visitors will not be able to use the playgrounds located near the entrance for some time. Cafes and other food points will remain closed as well. According to the Yerevan Municipality, the reason is the expired six-month contracts with five operators.

On April 25, written notifications were sent to the operators to remove their property from the zoo area. However, the operators refuse to fulfill their contractual obligations and have declared that they will do everything possible to extend the contract duration.

Yerevan Deputy Mayor Tigran Virabyan, addressing the issue at the zoo, emphasized that it should be resolved only within the legal framework. The Deputy Mayor also stressed that the goal of the process is to protect long-term business plans and the interests of the operators. "When a person is offered a six-month contract, they cannot make serious investments and are forced to organize sales from such points without complying with sanitary and hygienic norms," he stated.

"We have not had verbal agreements, we do not have them, and we will not have them. No entrepreneur has the right to continue operations if the contract has expired. The Municipality will announce a competition, and those who participate and offer the most suitable conditions for the city and the zoo will have the right to operate. Previous operators also have the right to freely participate in the competition," added Tigran Virabyan.

It is noted that competitive packages for conducting economic activities at the zoo are currently being developed. Once ready, they will be published, and all interested parties will be able to participate in the tenders for the lease of the zoo's areas.