Construction Took Place Before Issuance of Building Permit in Kanaker-Zeytun District

In the Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district of Yerevan, construction work had been actively ongoing months ago at 42 Paruir Sevak Street. A second floor was being built for a trade hall located on the site. Hetq.am reports that a response received from the city hall reveals that the developer received permission to carry out the construction on April 28, 2025. However, available photographs indicate that the developer began construction before obtaining the necessary permit.

The land at 42 Paruir Sevak Street, including the existing buildings—a residential house, a trade hall, and a garage—belongs to Artak Hovakimyan and his wife, Evelina Sedrakyan. Artak Hovakimyan is the head of the Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district.

During a phone conversation, when asked why construction work was carried out without a building permit, Artak Hovakimyan responded that the work done was not construction but rather demolition work. According to Hovakimyan, he only conducted demolition work before obtaining the permit.

“Moreover, I have leased the area; the work is being carried out by tenants as per the contract, who have no connection with me. I pay taxes on my income, and there are no issues. Those buildings were purchased, if I am not mistaken, 10 years ago with a mortgage. My wife and I are still paying off the mortgage. Since the area was leased to the 'Tt’eni' supermarket, we tried to invest the revenue from the lease for the reconstruction of the second floor to make it more profitable. Everything is within the law,” said the head of the Kanaker-Zeytun district.

Despite Hovakimyan's assurances that no construction had been undertaken before obtaining the building permit, a photograph taken on April 22 tells a different story. The image shows that not only had demolition work been carried out, but also some construction work.

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