Tense Situation in Kotayk Province: Enforcement Agency Attempts to Evict Home Residents

On May 24, a tense and potentially explosive situation has developed in the Kotayk Province. A large number of residents gathered in front of a house on Hovhannisyan 14 street in Ejmiatsin, demanding that the staff of the Enforcement Service immediately halt the eviction proceedings against the residents of the mentioned house, reports Shamshyan.com.

In an interview with photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan, residents expressed: "The reason for our protest is that the court's decision is unlawful; the amount set for the auction of this house does not reflect its market value. We have suspicions that the buyer is connected to the judge Heboyan who made the decision. We offered the buyer a larger amount to withdraw from his desire to seize the home of these people, but he refused. Afterwards, he stated that he would incur significant expenses. The house was sold for about 2 million 500 thousand drams, while the total disputed amount is approximately 1 million 250 thousand drams. We demand that the Enforcement Service not get involved in the unlawful decision made by Judge Heboyan."

The photojournalist reports that enforcement staff are currently gathered in front of the house, attempting to forcibly enter, but are unsuccessful. A significant number of officers from the Nairi division of the police, headed by the chief of Nairi police, Albert Yeritsyan, are also present. The photojournalist notes that despite some attempts by 1-2 enforcement officers to provoke a confrontation, the public is not falling for their provocation.

They have formed a barrier in front of the entrance to the house and refuse to open the door. The photojournalist adds that several generations have lived in this house, which has a well-maintained garden. Additionally, there is a prayer site in the yard where candles are lit almost daily not only by residents of Ejmiatsin but also by believers from other areas.

The owner of the house, Avag Karapetyan, was involved in a car accident in the Russian Federation a year ago and has been dealing with health issues there for the past year. He has a few dependents, including a minor child, and his daughter is also pregnant. If the chaos created by Heboyan is not resolved, this family will find themselves on the street, exposed to the open sky, and a property worth about $250,000 will pass to another person for a purported debt of 1 million 500 thousand, for a home that was not mortgaged. Residents even state that they are willing to organize a fundraiser to pay off that debt; however, for some reason, the buyer is not interested.