Villagers in Gegharkunik Have Acted at Night and in Secrecy

Employees of the Historical Environment Preservation Service in the Gegharkunik region have reported an unauthorized activity in the territory of St. Gevorg Church in Gegharkunik village.

Residents of the village applied to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and the State Non-Profit Organization "Service for the Preservation of Historical-Cultural Monuments and Historical Environment" to obtain permission for the installation of a khachkar (Armenian cross-stone) in the monument's area. However, the Preservation Service stated that according to Article 16 of the Law on the Protection and Use of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments and Historical Environment of the Republic of Armenia, the installation of a khachkar within the monument's area is not permitted.

They suggested placing the khachkar outside the protective zone of the monument, but residents secretly prepared the foundation for the khachkar within the protected zone during the night.