Stalls dismantled in Mashtots park of Yerevan

Dismantling the stalls in Mashtots park was carried out upon the order of Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan who acknowledged the decision of construction in this territory invalid.

On May, 1, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan together with Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan visited Mashtots park where environmental activists had been striving against construction in this territory for over two months. On familiarizing himself with the situation, Head of the republic gave an indication to Mayor of Yerevan to dismantle the stalls immediately.

On May, 2, “Kentron-Kanachapatum” close corporation dismantled the stalls. Afterliquidation of the sales outlets the Mayor decided to continue works on improvement of the park, Deputy Mayor Kamo Areyan reported.

Meanwhile, non-governmental organizations striving against construction in the park declared that Mayor of Yerevan was responsible for illegal building of the stalls and governance of the city should be returned to its residents.

“Mayor of Yerevan has been inactive for already 80 days and is doing nothing to return the public garden to the community. Mayor of Yerevan must be guided by the townsmen’s will, not ethical preferences of only one person, regardless of the office the person holds. Such questions are regulatedby the Constitution and dominant public interest”, the statement runs.

Armine Arakekyan, founder of the Institute of Human Rights and Democracy, considers dismantling of the stalls a victory, but “the greatest victory is the authorities’ inability to use and obliterate the young activists’ movement”.

“When you believe in what you strive for you will win without fail”, activist Yegya Nersisyan remarked, in his turn. According to him, “this small victory” is not the end of environmental movement.