Yerevan Municipality Condemns Vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi Statue

The Yerevan Municipality has condemned the vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the spiritual leader and political figure from India, located in the intermediate park between Halabyan and Margaryan streets.

“We condemn this act. We regret that perhaps individuals who aspire to engage in public activity have contributed to this disgraceful act through their behavior, and it cannot be excluded that they may have directly encouraged it,” said Hakob Karapetyan, the spokesperson for the Yerevan Mayor, in an interview with Armenpress.

He expressed hope that law enforcement agencies would provide an appropriate assessment of the incident. The Armenian police have already checked the reports published in the media regarding the incident. Both the statue and its pedestal have been damaged, and materials are being prepared at the Mashtots Police Station.

The decision to install the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was made by the Yerevan City Council on April 28, 2020. Following the decision and the statue's installation in 2021, some public figures protested against its placement, labeling Gandhi as an anti-Armenian figure.