Illegal Structures Demolished in the Areas Adjacent to Lake Sevan and Harsnakhari

The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, Anna Vardapetyan, announced in 2025 that the Prosecutor's Office has initiated efforts to return unlawfully expropriated or leased properties to the state in the areas adjacent to Lake Sevan. Based on the studies conducted within the framework of the authority to protect state interests at the Gegharkunik regional prosecutor's office, a request has been addressed to the community of Sevan and the State Non-Commercial Organization 'Sevan National Park' to dismantle illegal buildings present on 34 plots of land below the absolute elevation along the shores of Lake Sevan and restore the former appearance of these plots.

Administrative proceedings have been initiated based on the requests, resulting in 23 demolition orders being issued. As of now, as a result of the execution of the Prosecutor's Office requests, over 20 illegal buildings constructed by various individuals have been dismantled on 11 plots of land that are below the absolute elevation. Additionally, 2 contracts have been terminated by the 'Sevan National Park' SNCO. The works are expected to continue into 2026.

In addition to the aforementioned request, during 2025, the Prosecutor's Office's Department for the Protection of State Interests and the Gegharkunik regional prosecutor's office addressed 8 more requests to the Ministry of Environment and the 'Sevan National Park' SNCO. These requests and the lawsuits submitted to the court by the Prosecutor’s Office, among other matters, concern:

• The administrative complex of the 'Harsnakhari' hotel (50 Yerevan Highway, Sevan City),
• The cottages of the 'Harsnakhari' hotel (48/6 Yerevan Highway, Sevan City),
• The illegally constructed villa at Sevan owned by the former president of the Football Federation of Armenia and former MP Ruben Hayrapetyan (38 3rd Street of the Recreation Zone, Sevan City),
• The illegally constructed villa at Sevan owned by the former police chief Vladimir Gasparyan (97 1st Street, Darakhtik community, Gegharkunik region),
• The illegally constructed villa at Sevan owned by former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan (71 1st Street, Darakhtik community, Gegharkunik region),
• The illegally constructed villa at Sevan by Arman Hakobjanian, chairman of the board of 'Kapavor' LLC (88 1st Street, Darakhtik community, Gegharkunik region).

As a result of studies conducted within the authority of the Prosecutor's Office's Department for the Protection of State Interests and the Gegharkunik regional prosecutor's office, reports of criminal offenses have been sent to the investigative authorities, and criminal proceedings have been initiated.