Armenian Ombudsman accuses Yerevan Mayoralty of illegal smashing street kiosks

Karen Andreasyan, Ombudsman in Armenia, has stated that the actions of the Yerevan Mayoralty and police aimed to dismantle kiosks are illegitimate and violate human rights.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Mayoralty of Yerevan had decided to reduce the number of pavilions, kiosks and other temporary structures located in the streets of the country's capital. The dismantling caused a confrontation of kiosk owners with law enforcers. On August 11, the street retail sellers held a protest action in front of the building of the government.

In the opinion of the Ombudsman, dismantling of kiosks in Papazyan Street on August 10 was accompanied by numerous violations of human rights, while the actions of the Mayoralty and the police were illegitimate.

Karen Andreasyan believes that notifications should have been served only to the owners of illegally operating trading facilities. The owners of five pavilions presented their ownership certificates to the Mayoralty and the police; however, these documents were disregarded.

The Ombudsman notes that his materials evidence that policemen applied violence to citizens in the process of dismantling the kiosks.

In order to avoid such incidents in the future, he offered the Mayoralty of Yerevan first to ensure judicially protection of certain persons and their vital interests, and only then to implement their programme of improvement of the appearance of the capital. Karen Andreasyan has also advised the Mayoralty to respect citizens' rights and act under the principle that the city's management belongs both to wealthy and needy residents of the capital.