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PAK SHUKA STANDOFF: CIVIL ACTIVISTS CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF COVERED MARKET
http://www.armenianow.com/society/49088/armenia_covered_market_pak_shuka_standoff
SOCIETY | 10.10.13 | 09:31
Photolure
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Struggle over the Covered Market in central Yerevan will continue,
say civil activists who call for a boycott of the place and promise
a campaign against the "system" this time.
The agricultural market known as Pak Shuka reopened this week after
nearly two years of controversial renovation that activists say has
distorted its original architectural form.
While the front part of the building retains its former appearance,
an underground parking garage has been built and a new two-story glass
building has appeared in the rear part of the market, while the market
proper occupies only a small part where people who worked there in the
past are enabled to sell fruits and vegetables today. The major part
of the building, meanwhile, has been turned into a huge supermarket
with about two dozen cash counters.
Scores of activists representing the civil initiative calling itself
"Let's Liberate the Monument From the Oligarch" marched to Pak Shuka
on Wednesday afternoon to protest the official reopening of the
facility. There, however, they encountered a counterdemonstration
staged by the employees of the market who backed its owner, affluent
businessman and MP Samvel Alexanyan, who is behind the controversial
redevelopment.
Activists say with his redesign Alexanyan has "distorted" the
architectural landmark of the city.
Many activists who gathered near Pak Shuka expressed doubts that this
facility meets health and safety requirements, they claimed that
it could collapse at any moment as the construction was conducted
without a proper permit and the cadastre has not granted the right
for using it.
Such claims made earlier had been dismissed by those carrying out
the reconstruction project.
Meanwhile, scores of pro-Alexanyan citizens with banners saying "No To
Hired Oppositionists", "No To Grant-Eaters", "You Are Against Creation
of 700 Jobs", "No To Foreign Spies" etc. staged a counterdemonstration
at Pak Shuka. They insisted that the renovation of the building only
saved it from the final decay and collapse.
Police officers were deployed on the scene to prevent possible clashes
between the two sides. Despite mutual accusations and verbal exchanges,
the two-hour-long standoff proceeded mostly peacefully, with no major
incident reported.
During the action Robert Aharonyan, the leader of the socialist
movement, accused the activists of trying to cause a crisis in Armenia.
"The same people always appear in different places and their goal is to
create a critical situation to show to those who issue grants to them
that there isn't a normal situation in Armenia. But we have a stable
situation," said Aharonyan. He, however, invited representatives of
the opposite side for negotiations at one of the hotels in Yerevan
the next day.
Activists indicated that they would not accept such invitations. They
said that an obvious crime has taken place and there was no conducting
negotiations "over a crime", which must entail punishment in an order
prescribed by law.
Narine Sargsyan, 43, who said she was a resident of the building next
to the Covered Market, said she was thankful for the renovation of
the building, as the territory has finally been cleaned and shopping
has become more convenient.
"It used to be a place for rats, we couldn't pass through this
territory, it smelled so bad, but today I went to the store,
everything was so clean and nice, and the prices are reasonable,"
Sargsyan told ArmeniaNow.
Sardarapat movement member, filmmaker Tigran Khzmalyan, meanwhile,
urged citizens to boycott the market.
"We are going to pay special attention to getting this message
across to all Armenians and tourists through the internet. This is a
defiled place, a place that has been seized from the country, nation,
culture, the place that has been distorted. A taboo, a boycott will
be our answer and beginning today any person who has dignity will
not go to this place, will not shop there," said Khzmalyan, adding
that the protest will not be limited to actions organized by 20, 30,
or 100 and 200 people but will bear a "system" nature.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armenianow.com/society/49088/armenia_covered_market_pak_shuka_standoff
SOCIETY | 10.10.13 | 09:31
Photolure
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Struggle over the Covered Market in central Yerevan will continue,
say civil activists who call for a boycott of the place and promise
a campaign against the "system" this time.
The agricultural market known as Pak Shuka reopened this week after
nearly two years of controversial renovation that activists say has
distorted its original architectural form.
While the front part of the building retains its former appearance,
an underground parking garage has been built and a new two-story glass
building has appeared in the rear part of the market, while the market
proper occupies only a small part where people who worked there in the
past are enabled to sell fruits and vegetables today. The major part
of the building, meanwhile, has been turned into a huge supermarket
with about two dozen cash counters.
Scores of activists representing the civil initiative calling itself
"Let's Liberate the Monument From the Oligarch" marched to Pak Shuka
on Wednesday afternoon to protest the official reopening of the
facility. There, however, they encountered a counterdemonstration
staged by the employees of the market who backed its owner, affluent
businessman and MP Samvel Alexanyan, who is behind the controversial
redevelopment.
Activists say with his redesign Alexanyan has "distorted" the
architectural landmark of the city.
Many activists who gathered near Pak Shuka expressed doubts that this
facility meets health and safety requirements, they claimed that
it could collapse at any moment as the construction was conducted
without a proper permit and the cadastre has not granted the right
for using it.
Such claims made earlier had been dismissed by those carrying out
the reconstruction project.
Meanwhile, scores of pro-Alexanyan citizens with banners saying "No To
Hired Oppositionists", "No To Grant-Eaters", "You Are Against Creation
of 700 Jobs", "No To Foreign Spies" etc. staged a counterdemonstration
at Pak Shuka. They insisted that the renovation of the building only
saved it from the final decay and collapse.
Police officers were deployed on the scene to prevent possible clashes
between the two sides. Despite mutual accusations and verbal exchanges,
the two-hour-long standoff proceeded mostly peacefully, with no major
incident reported.
During the action Robert Aharonyan, the leader of the socialist
movement, accused the activists of trying to cause a crisis in Armenia.
"The same people always appear in different places and their goal is to
create a critical situation to show to those who issue grants to them
that there isn't a normal situation in Armenia. But we have a stable
situation," said Aharonyan. He, however, invited representatives of
the opposite side for negotiations at one of the hotels in Yerevan
the next day.
Activists indicated that they would not accept such invitations. They
said that an obvious crime has taken place and there was no conducting
negotiations "over a crime", which must entail punishment in an order
prescribed by law.
Narine Sargsyan, 43, who said she was a resident of the building next
to the Covered Market, said she was thankful for the renovation of
the building, as the territory has finally been cleaned and shopping
has become more convenient.
"It used to be a place for rats, we couldn't pass through this
territory, it smelled so bad, but today I went to the store,
everything was so clean and nice, and the prices are reasonable,"
Sargsyan told ArmeniaNow.
Sardarapat movement member, filmmaker Tigran Khzmalyan, meanwhile,
urged citizens to boycott the market.
"We are going to pay special attention to getting this message
across to all Armenians and tourists through the internet. This is a
defiled place, a place that has been seized from the country, nation,
culture, the place that has been distorted. A taboo, a boycott will
be our answer and beginning today any person who has dignity will
not go to this place, will not shop there," said Khzmalyan, adding
that the protest will not be limited to actions organized by 20, 30,
or 100 and 200 people but will bear a "system" nature.
From: A. Papazian