VIDEO: "There’s no difference between stealing money or land" - Avinyan

"I believe the general approach that the state and city have had on this issue over the years is flawed because what’s the difference between stealing money from the state budget or the city hall’s budget, or stealing land and building on it while claiming, 'this land is mine,'" said Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan today, addressing the issue of unauthorized constructions.

"There’s no difference between stealing money or land; it’s the same type of crime. And here, too, we need to understand together with the legal department how we can tighten the laws so that this type of attitude towards the city simply disappears. I don’t understand what unauthorized structure means," emphasized Tigran, noting that individuals go onto community land, knowing it’s not theirs, and build something, saying, 'people will come and go, something will happen.'"