65 Buildings Demolished in Areas Adjacent to Lake Sevan: Prosecutor General's Office

Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan announced on December 11, 2025, that the demolition of illegally constructed buildings in areas adjacent to Lake Sevan, situated below absolute zero elevation, has commenced. The office also indicated that the demolition of these illegal constructions will continue throughout 2026.

As of February 24, 2026, a cottage illegally constructed by the brother of former Minister of Education and Science Arman Ashotyan, as well as one built by the son of former Gegharkunik Governor Rafik Grigoryan, were demolished. Notably, these cottages were built on plots where developers had no rights to lease.

On February 2, 2026, the Prosecutor's Office reported that the illegal construction of a villa by former Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan, including its walls, concrete retaining structures, and other buildings, had also been demolished. Thus, between December 2025 and the present, 65 illegally constructed buildings have been demolished on 25 plots of land situated below absolute zero elevation, following the execution of Prosecutor's Office directives. The management of the 'Sevan National Park' State Non-Commercial Organization has canceled 2 contracts.

In addition to the aforementioned directives, throughout 2025, 8 more directives were submitted to the Ministry of Environment and the 'Sevan National Park' from the Prosecutor General's State Interests Protection Division and the Gegharkunik Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The mentioned directives and other lawsuits presented by the Prosecutor's Office concern: a villa illegally built by former Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan (at 97 1st Street, Draxthik community, Gegharkunik), the administrative complex of the 'Harsnakar' Hotel (at 50 Yerevan Highway, Sevan), the cottages of the 'Harsnakar' Hotel (at 48/6 Yerevan Highway, Sevan), a villa illegally constructed by former President of the Football Federation of Armenia and former Member of Parliament Ruben Hayrapetyan (at 38 3rd Street, Recreation Zone, Sevan), a villa built illegally by former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan (at 71 1st Street, Draxthik community, Gegharkunik), and a villa built illegally by Arman Hakobjanyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of 'Kapavor' LLC (at 88 1st Street, Draxthik community, Gegharkunik).

Based on the investigations conducted by the Prosecutor General's State Interests Protection Division and the Gegharkunik Regional Prosecutor's Office for the protection of state interests, reports of crimes have been sent to the preliminary investigation bodies and criminal proceedings have been initiated.

In response to citizens' concerns regarding why buildings are being demolished when they could be given to socially vulnerable families, it is noted that areas below 1905.0 meters absolute elevation around Lake Sevan are subject to flooding and are part of the protective coastal zone. According to the government's decision No. 1563-N dated December 18, 2008, areas subject to flooding and inundation due to rising lake levels include those from the water border of the 'Sevan' national park to 1905.0 meters absolute elevation.

Thus, offers to transfer demolished structures for alternative use have no legal basis, as they are at risk of submersion, property rights cannot be registered on them as prohibited by Armenian legislation, and their existence harms the ecosystem of Lake Sevan, its cleanliness, and water quality.