We Have Been Taken by Surprise: What the Director and Employees of the Malatia Market Are Saying

The family market "Rafael-Tatev," commonly known as the "Malatia Market," will be closed starting February 1, following a decision by the head of the Inspection Body for Urban Development, Technical and Fire Safety. This decision and the notification regarding it have sparked dissatisfaction among market employees.

In an interview with NEWS.am, market owner and director Samvel Avetisyan stated that an inspection in October identified 17 violations, of which 12 have been rectified.

“There are violations that are impossible to eliminate, for example, buildings must be located at least 8 meters away. This requirement was established in 2015, while the market has been operational since 1999. All violations are related to fire safety. We sent a letter in November, they formed a commission, went for inspections, and provided a report listing the violations we have addressed. For instance, evacuation routes are clear, ensuring free movement of people. No overhead power lines run above fire hazard structures, which is a positive aspect. At least one fire hydrant or a minimum 50 cubic meter firefighting water tank is required within 200 meters of the site or its vicinity for external firefighting. There is nothing obstructing firefighters’ access. Partial installations of automatic fire alarm systems are set up at trading points. We have a contract with the Ministry of Emergency Situations; when the sound alarm goes off here indicating smoke, they are notified immediately, and they arrive right away. We have tested this, and it functions. Smoke detectors are placed throughout the area, except for the administrative building. We have conducted tests, all of my employees have gas masks, and we know who is responsible for extinguishing the fire and how. We also have foam and gas fire extinguishers. By the time the fire engine arrives, they manage to extinguish everything,” he explained.

According to the director, an automatic smoke removal system is practically non-existent, only available in malls. “Experts said it would take three months to install them if the market’s operations are halted; otherwise, we can do it gradually. I haven’t started that work because it has been ordered to shut down. I’ve asked them not to interfere with people until the 1st; I will announce that the market is closing from the 1st. Everything falls on the hands of the vendor who cannot afford to stall elsewhere. They pay 2000 drams daily,” he noted.

When asked about the fate of the products in the market, Avetisyan responded, “I will do my best to reopen the market if possible. I will talk to certain people; if not, I need to give time for them to vacate their inventories. I might either continue working here or the business in this area will change. I still haven’t decided what I will do.”

The market employees are equally taken aback by this decision. “We have been taken by surprise; this is unacceptable. I have been working here for 30 years. Have they offered any alternatives before closing? They haven’t provided any. It’s no different than a mall; it’s well-lit, clean, comfortable, fire safety measures are created, and ventilators are installed. What more can be done? Now that they are closing, what will we do? I am advanced in age; there are no other jobs in Armenia,” said one trader.

Another added, “I can’t imagine what I will do; I have nowhere to move the products. What shall I do with all this inventory? I have invested significant amounts of money. If there is an alternative, let the government propose it and give us time to adjust. We will appeal to the government not to close; people are under loans and will be left without bread. This is the source of income for all of us, and so many families will be left without means to survive. The authorities should think before closing about the alternatives they offer us. It’s a foolish step to just shut down the market. They could give us time, and we will resolve the issues with the violations. I have taken loans worth millions; I have so much inventory; now where shall I go with all this?”