Demolition of Seyran Ohanyan's Villa Walls and Ramp

The Chief Prosecutor Anna Vardapetyan announced on December 11, 2025, that the demolition work of illegally constructed buildings on land plots below absolute elevation near Lake Sevan has commenced. The Prosecutor's Office also informed that the demolitions would continue into 2026.

In March 2026, based on the Chief Prosecutor's directives, 16 buildings located on 11 plots of land were dismantled, including walls and ramps of a villa owned by former Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan in areas below the absolute elevation mark, as well as a villa owned by the son of former National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan. Thus, from December 2025 to the present day, as a result of the execution of the Chief Prosecutor's directives, a total of 86 illegally constructed buildings were demolished in 34 plots of land near Lake Sevan, and 2 contracts were terminated by the Sevan National Park.

It is noteworthy that on February 24, 2026, the illegally built cottage of former Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashtoyan's brother, as well as the cottage built by Karen Rafik Grigoryan, son of former Gegharkunik Governor Rafik Grigoryan, were dismantled, both of which were constructed on plots of land where the developers did not even have rental rights.

On February 2, 2026, the Prosecutor's Office also announced that the walls, concrete foundations, ramps, and other structures of a villa illegally constructed by former police chief Vladimir Gasparyan in the Sevan area were demolished. The Prosecutor's Office is also seeking the confiscation of this villa under claims for the recovery of properties of illegal origin.

In addition to the aforementioned directives, lawsuits have been filed by the Prosecutor's Office concerning various illegally constructed properties, including:

• The villa of former police chief Vladimir Gasparyan (address: 97, First Street, Drax Tik Community, Gegharkunik Province)
• The administrative complex of the “Harsnakhar” hotel (address: 50, Yerevan Highway, Sevan City)
• Cottages of the “Harsnakhar” hotel (address: 48/6, Yerevan Highway, Sevan City)
• The villa of Ruben Hayrapetyan, former president of the Armenian Football Federation and former National Assembly member (address: 38, Third Street, Recreation Area, Sevan City)
• The villa of former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan (address: 71, First Street, Drax Tik Community, Gegharkunik Province)
• The villa of Arman Hakobjanyan, chairman of the board of “Kapavor” LLC (address: 88, First Street, Drax Tik Community, Gegharkunik Province)

As a result of investigations conducted under the authority of the Government's State Interests Protection Office and the Gegharkunik Provincial Prosecutor's Office, reports on criminal offenses have been sent to preliminary investigation bodies, and criminal proceedings have been initiated.

In response to citizens' concerns about why buildings are being dismantled if they can be allocated to socially vulnerable families, it was noted that areas below an absolute elevation of 1905.0 meters around Lake Sevan are subject to flooding and are coastal protected zones. According to the government’s decision No. 1563-N dated December 18, 2008, areas at risk of flooding and submersion due to the rising water levels of Lake Sevan fall under the jurisdiction of the “Sevan” National Park from the lake's water limit up to 1905.0 meters above sea level.

Therefore, proposals to transfer the demolished structures for other purposes lack legal grounds since they are at risk of submersion, cannot be registered for ownership, as stipulated by Armenian law, and their existence harms the ecosystem, cleanliness, and water quality of Lake Sevan.