Residents of Firdus Demand Proper Compensation for Their Properties

Residents of the Firdus neighborhood in Yerevan are staging a protest in front of the Armenian government building, demanding proper compensation for their properties. This was reported by Sputnik Armenia.

In 2015, the government decided to demolish several houses and warehouses in the Firdus neighborhood based on overriding public interest. While most residents received compensation, there are some who consider the compensation insufficient and refuse to leave their homes.

“This is my ancestral home, I grew up here. The house is three stories high and located in the city center, but they are trying to buy it from me for peanuts. This is not public interest but a business, resulting in significant profits for the developer,” said resident Raphael Safaryan in an interview with journalists.

He added that 112 residents of the neighborhood have received a letter stating the necessity to vacate the premises by April 15. Safaryan noted that they do not plan to leave their homes until they receive the market value of their property plus 15%.

“We want to be accepted by the government and finally be heard,” said another resident of the neighborhood.

The Firdus neighborhood, which covers approximately 5 hectares, is set to be developed into a new residential area named “33rd District,” which will include residential buildings, business centers, and hotels. The project was designed by Narek Sargsyan (former chief architect of Yerevan), with the chief architect being Hovhannes Mutafyan.

It is worth noting that the Firdus neighborhood located in the center of Yerevan was first declared an area of overriding public interest in 2008, and this decision was reaffirmed on March 22, 2018, just a month before the “Velvet Revolution.” The construction in the area is expected to be completed by 2023-2024. According to the development project, the new Firdus neighborhood will contain both residential buildings and hotels as well as business centers.