23:16, 8 September 2012

Building of circus blown up in Yerevan

On September 8, a group of explosion experts and sappers blew up the circus building, located in central Yerevan.

In the afternoon, journalist Karen Arutyunyan got into the building trying to prevent the blasting. He demanded a demolition permit from the police, but they could not present the relevant documents.

"They blew up the dome in order to make the building an emergency one and then build what they want instead," said Arutyunyan.

However, officials of the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) of Armenia have assured that all the documents are in order. According to Colonel Musheg Gazaryan, the head of the Rescue Department of Yerevan, there are no reasons to doubt the legitimacy of demolition works.

Mr Gazaryan has added that the building is fully in the emergency condition; besides, the circus had no adjacent car park; therefore, to avoid emergency situations it was decided to dismantle it and build a new one by preserving the old exterior.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent