Citizen Falls from the Steps of Noravank

A citizen of Armenian descent from Russia has fallen from the notorious steps of the Burdelashen Church in the Noravank Monastery Complex. The individual has sustained serious injuries to the legs (reportedly an open fracture, damaged muscle tissues, and bleeding) and has been transported to the hospital in Yeghegnadzor by an emergency response team. This was reported by tour guide Yasha Solomonian on his Facebook page.

“For years, we, the conscientious tour guides, have been shouting about this issue. The Armenian Association of Professional Tourist Guides (AAPTG) previously addressed the relevant authorities with an open letter regarding the problem, but it has fallen on deaf ears. Moreover, years ago, on this topic, they brought in a cable car along the stairs, damaging the walls of the church and further encouraging the masses to climb the narrow stairs,” Solomonian stated.

This is a clear sign of negligence towards a medieval monument and a blatant disregard for human life and health. This must come to an end. The flow on these steps must be closed and prohibited.

How many more people need to be injured for you to understand this simple truth? Are you waiting for the stairs to collapse, or for someone to become a victim, to grasp the situation?” he added, addressing the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia, the Ministry of Emergency Situations RA, the Tourism Committee of RA, and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

“I urge my journalist colleagues to cover this issue; as tour guides, we cannot solve this problem alone. Please spread this post as widely as possible, hoping it will reach the relevant people,” Solomonian concluded.