ALERT: Where Are the Cut Trees of Yerevan Being Taken? Are They Being Sold?

Since early yesterday morning, employees of the "Greening and Environmental Protection" municipal enterprise have been cutting down trees in the center of Yerevan, which has sparked complaints and criticism from the public. Citizens are expressing their dissatisfaction over the capital losing its already limited vegetation and are questioning whether these trees were indeed necessary to cut down.

Earlier, Armen Begoyan, the director of Yerevan's "Greening and Environmental Protection" enterprise, assured journalists and residents during a conversation in the Cascade area that the cut trees would be replaced with more beautiful and resilient ones shortly.

However, residents of Yerevan have been contacting Auroranews, asking for clarification on where the already cut trees are being taken, voicing their suspicions that they are being sold illegally.

The press office of the Yerevan Municipality stated to Auroranews that rotten trees are distributed to underprivileged residents who are in need of fuel, based on applications sent by administrative districts to the municipal enterprise.

“Certain trees that are not completely rotten and are usable will be transformed into benches and other decorative items that will later benefit parks,” they added. Regarding the illegal sale of cut trees, the office emphasized that this is misinformation. “How can one sell those rotten trees?” they noted, adding that this process is monitored by the municipal enterprise, but general oversight is carried out by the municipality itself.