'TRAGEDY OF NORTHERN AVE. CONTINUES': YEREVAN CLOTHING SHOP DEMOLISHED
epress.am
08.23.2011
The clothing and footwear shop "Milano" located at 4 Abovyan St. in
Yerevan was taken down on Monday morning. According to a government
decision, the area the building rests on (recognized as a priority,
public interest land) has been alienated, after which the demolition
work was to have begun.
Heritage Party MP Stepan (Styopa) Safaryan told Epress.am it's already
been a few years that they, along with Milano's owners, have been
raising alarms to different government agencies on the violation of
property rights; however, their efforts have been in vain.
"Last year, I submitted a 7-page analysis to the RA Prosecutor
General's Office, and I noted on how many counts Milano's owner's
rights were violated. However, the Prosecutor General, not taking
the risk to examine the existing decision, gave a brief response
in writing, which wasn't even an answer, since there was no legal
response," he said.
According to the MP, at around 8 pm on Aug. 20, they received a call
that some people were taking apart the pavement outside Milano.
"I and [fellow Heritage Party MP] Anahit Bakhshyan went to the scene
where we saw several police officers and several contractors from whom
we were unable to ascertain whether they were employees of a lawful,
licensed company. We had a meeting with the head of the Yerevan Kentron
["Centre"] police department and we suggested they obligate the party
carrying out demolition work to cease work at least outside working
hours and days," said Safaryan.
The opposition deputy said that there was another attempt to take
down the building on Sunday.
"Today we became informed that early in the morning the soil was
levelled - when nearly at the same time, Anahit Bakhshyan was meeting
with the Yerevan mayor, who promised to review this issue."
Safaryan said the Milano owner's rights were violated by the Armenian
government.
"Basically, the tragedy of Northern Avenue continues. The present
corresponding bodies continue not to protect the property rights of
citizens of the Republic of Armenia, and none of us can be assured
that one day, by a Government decision, his house, his property won't
be considered public interest and and won't be taken from your hands.
This, as well as the kiosk owners' issue, are precedents and incite
people to rebellion. When you spur a person to a corner, you pressure
him, you can only expect a blow from him," he said.
Note, until Aug. 20, no activities were carried out in the public
interest area for a few years. On Aug. 11, the owner submitted a
motion to the court, asking the demolition and modification of the
building be banned; however, on Aug. 18, the Yerevan mayor gave the
developer permission to demolish the building.
According to Safaryan, when they asked to see the written permission,
it was "practically an empty [piece of] paper."
"There was neither the new owner's name nor details about licensing
nor anything," he added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
epress.am
08.23.2011
The clothing and footwear shop "Milano" located at 4 Abovyan St. in
Yerevan was taken down on Monday morning. According to a government
decision, the area the building rests on (recognized as a priority,
public interest land) has been alienated, after which the demolition
work was to have begun.
Heritage Party MP Stepan (Styopa) Safaryan told Epress.am it's already
been a few years that they, along with Milano's owners, have been
raising alarms to different government agencies on the violation of
property rights; however, their efforts have been in vain.
"Last year, I submitted a 7-page analysis to the RA Prosecutor
General's Office, and I noted on how many counts Milano's owner's
rights were violated. However, the Prosecutor General, not taking
the risk to examine the existing decision, gave a brief response
in writing, which wasn't even an answer, since there was no legal
response," he said.
According to the MP, at around 8 pm on Aug. 20, they received a call
that some people were taking apart the pavement outside Milano.
"I and [fellow Heritage Party MP] Anahit Bakhshyan went to the scene
where we saw several police officers and several contractors from whom
we were unable to ascertain whether they were employees of a lawful,
licensed company. We had a meeting with the head of the Yerevan Kentron
["Centre"] police department and we suggested they obligate the party
carrying out demolition work to cease work at least outside working
hours and days," said Safaryan.
The opposition deputy said that there was another attempt to take
down the building on Sunday.
"Today we became informed that early in the morning the soil was
levelled - when nearly at the same time, Anahit Bakhshyan was meeting
with the Yerevan mayor, who promised to review this issue."
Safaryan said the Milano owner's rights were violated by the Armenian
government.
"Basically, the tragedy of Northern Avenue continues. The present
corresponding bodies continue not to protect the property rights of
citizens of the Republic of Armenia, and none of us can be assured
that one day, by a Government decision, his house, his property won't
be considered public interest and and won't be taken from your hands.
This, as well as the kiosk owners' issue, are precedents and incite
people to rebellion. When you spur a person to a corner, you pressure
him, you can only expect a blow from him," he said.
Note, until Aug. 20, no activities were carried out in the public
interest area for a few years. On Aug. 11, the owner submitted a
motion to the court, asking the demolition and modification of the
building be banned; however, on Aug. 18, the Yerevan mayor gave the
developer permission to demolish the building.
According to Safaryan, when they asked to see the written permission,
it was "practically an empty [piece of] paper."
"There was neither the new owner's name nor details about licensing
nor anything," he added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress