Foundation Laid for 12-Storey Building in Andranik the Priest's Yard

The newspaper "Hraparak" reports: The leader of the "Sasun" ethnographic song and dance group, Andranik the Priest Manukyan, has found the foundation of a 12-storey building laid right in his yard with metal rebar. He has voiced his concerns multiple times, yet there has been no progress on the matter.

ArmLur.am visited his residence to become acquainted with the issues arising from the construction of the multi-storey building, including the evident cracks in the walls of his home. "The entire house is lost in cracks, and it opens up more each day. The construction is not only in my backyard but is on my private property as well. They have demolished over three meters and have come into my house. When they were planning the construction of the multi-apartment building, I was deceitfully informed that it would be 20 meters away. But when I realized this was not the case, I lodged a complaint with the relevant authorities, and construction was halted for some time, but later it resumed at the hands of former Mayor Hayk Marutyan. Initially, I wanted to see him to discuss the illegal construction taking place, but I could not meet him. On December 22, 2021, Hayk Marutyan granted the construction permit to continue this disgraceful illegal building, and then he was relieved of his mayoral duties. Now I want to understand: if there truly exists a law and it is operational, then let them find the criminals, bring them in, and punish them, including Hayk Marutyan. I want to ask why he signed that construction permit when I had caught the thief and brought him to you," our interlocutor stated.

The issue has also been addressed by the chair of the National Assembly's Permanent Commission on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs, Taguhi Tovmasyan, who personally spoke with the current Mayor of Yerevan, Hrachya Sargsyan. "Andranik the Priest reached out to me, and I instructed the commission's experts to investigate how a person's property has become someone else's asset or how it is so easy to demolish someone else's property. I also spoke with Yerevan Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan, who assured me that no construction is ongoing and that a halt process has begun, and the construction is suspended until we understand how the legal aspects of this issue will resolve. Now I am waiting, and it would be very regrettable if it turns out that the construction can start again since I at least have assurance at the highest level that it is halted," she said.

We hope the mayor will be consistent with his promises, and we will not witness such situations again.

For more details, refer to today’s issue of the newspaper.