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TAKE 2: WAVING WHITE FLAGS, PROTESTING HOMEOWNERS TRY TO DELIVER THEIR LETTER TO PRESIDENT
epress.am
01.31.2012
Homeowners promised apartments in the new buildings constructed on
Aram, Buzand, Yekmalyan and Saryan streets were out again demonstrating
on the corner of Baghramyan and Demirchyan streets - this time,
they came waving white flags in the hope that this might catch the
president's attention as he drives by on his way to work.
"After yesterday's unsuccessful attempt, we came more prepared today.
The white flags attached to our umbrellas perhaps will draw attention
and the president will notice us," one participant, Sona Maghakyan,
told Epress.am.
Seeing the president's motorcade, demonstrators waved their white
flags and the letter they want to give to him personally, shouting
"President, answer!" However, like yesterday, so too today, the
motorcade drove past without stopping.
Later, Aida Asatryan, head of the desk for receiving citizens,
proposals, appeals and claims at the president's office, approached
demonstrators and urged them to give their letter to her, but they
refused.
"No way - we trust no one and we don't want to give a letter through
an intermediary. This is the umpteenth time we've delivered a letter
and have not received an answer, neither written nor verbal. If today
[assistant to the president Armen] Abelyan troubles himself to come
down [i.e. outside], I'll give him the letter," said Maghakyan.
Recall, yesterday demonstrators refused to hand over the letter to
Abelyan when he approached them.
Later, demonstrators moved from the intersection to across the
street from the president's office, where they were approached by
Armen Abelyan. They spoke, after which the homeowners asked him to
personally deliver their letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
Abelyan assured demonstrators that the president was aware of their
concerns and has instructed the Presidential Oversight (Control)
Service to look into resolving the matter.
The homeowners objected, requesting a meeting with the president
personally; however, Abelyan assured them that Oversight Service
staff will contact them in the coming days to schedule a meeting.
Recall, in 2006, the residents (whose apartments were recognized
as public priority interest) agreed to leave their homes on the
condition that they would be given apartments in the new buildings
to be constructed on the same site. For this they signed an agreement
with a developer by the name of Gagik Papoyan, but the residents still
haven't received their new apartments - in fact, the units have been
resold to third parties.
Late last year, Armenia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) launched
a criminal case against Papoyan, but he cannot be found. The homeowners
say the SIS informed them that that the case could take months as
hundreds of people have to be questioned in connection with the case.
From: A. Papazian
epress.am
01.31.2012
Homeowners promised apartments in the new buildings constructed on
Aram, Buzand, Yekmalyan and Saryan streets were out again demonstrating
on the corner of Baghramyan and Demirchyan streets - this time,
they came waving white flags in the hope that this might catch the
president's attention as he drives by on his way to work.
"After yesterday's unsuccessful attempt, we came more prepared today.
The white flags attached to our umbrellas perhaps will draw attention
and the president will notice us," one participant, Sona Maghakyan,
told Epress.am.
Seeing the president's motorcade, demonstrators waved their white
flags and the letter they want to give to him personally, shouting
"President, answer!" However, like yesterday, so too today, the
motorcade drove past without stopping.
Later, Aida Asatryan, head of the desk for receiving citizens,
proposals, appeals and claims at the president's office, approached
demonstrators and urged them to give their letter to her, but they
refused.
"No way - we trust no one and we don't want to give a letter through
an intermediary. This is the umpteenth time we've delivered a letter
and have not received an answer, neither written nor verbal. If today
[assistant to the president Armen] Abelyan troubles himself to come
down [i.e. outside], I'll give him the letter," said Maghakyan.
Recall, yesterday demonstrators refused to hand over the letter to
Abelyan when he approached them.
Later, demonstrators moved from the intersection to across the
street from the president's office, where they were approached by
Armen Abelyan. They spoke, after which the homeowners asked him to
personally deliver their letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
Abelyan assured demonstrators that the president was aware of their
concerns and has instructed the Presidential Oversight (Control)
Service to look into resolving the matter.
The homeowners objected, requesting a meeting with the president
personally; however, Abelyan assured them that Oversight Service
staff will contact them in the coming days to schedule a meeting.
Recall, in 2006, the residents (whose apartments were recognized
as public priority interest) agreed to leave their homes on the
condition that they would be given apartments in the new buildings
to be constructed on the same site. For this they signed an agreement
with a developer by the name of Gagik Papoyan, but the residents still
haven't received their new apartments - in fact, the units have been
resold to third parties.
Late last year, Armenia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) launched
a criminal case against Papoyan, but he cannot be found. The homeowners
say the SIS informed them that that the case could take months as
hundreds of people have to be questioned in connection with the case.
From: A. Papazian