Project of Christ statue on Armenian mount sparks historians' and rights defenders' criticism

The installation of a statue of Jesus Christ on Mount Atis violates the law on the protection of cultural heritage and natural areas, 16 human rights and public organizations have stated. They doubt the attractiveness of the statue for tourists.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 16, on the top of Mount Atis, activists held a rally against the erection of the above statue, which was the initiative of Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the "Prosperous Armenia" Party. The idea was approved by the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who announced that the statue would increase tourists' interest in Armenia. Scientists opposed the idea, while the Armenian Apostolic Church believes that the statue is contrary to the cult tradition.

The construction of the statue has revealed corruption risks in the alienation of a public area that is a historical monument, as well as the non-transparent activities of Armenian authorities, the authors of the statement signed by the Transparency International Anticorruption Centre, the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, the Helsinki Association of Armenia and other organizations assert.

"They are destroying not only a natural monument, but also the cultural and historical heritage. There are more than 50 antiquities of the Neolithic, Stone and Bronze Ages on Mount Atis," said Garegin Miskaryan, the initiator of the petition against the construction of the statue.

Asmik Arutyunyan, an expert from the NGO "Rights Protection Without Borders", said that authorities had ignored the demand of public organizations and continue the construction.