Epress.am News from Armenia
Homeowners cheated by Glendale Hills Company have stated that they will not stop their regular protests and will not leave the government building until they meet with PM Hovik Abrahamyan. The protest participants are owners of apartments from newly constructed buildings on Tigran Mets Blvd., Yekmalyan St., and residents neighboring Yerevan Wine Factory. They have noted, that because of Glendale Hills going bankrupt, a 130 people have lost their homes and are renting apartments one after another.
Some protesting homeowners stated that their rent is usually paid for by the company, however, some homeowners have not received their rental compensation for 3 months.
During the protest, police had created a barricade and did not let protesters enter or get near the government building.
“Does such conduct suit you?” a police officer condemned the protesting women during a clash near the building. One of the officers even warned the protesters “not to hit a police officer next, because it is a criminal violation.”
“They’re not giving me a house, the contracts' expiration date passed 2 years ago, I’m going to turn the government building into my home and live here,” said a protesting woman.
The protesters explained to journalists that Hovik Abrahamyan meets with them, but so did former-PM Tigran Sargsyan, who “pocketed the money, gave promises and became Ambassador to the US” and no longer holds responsibility for his promises.
The homeowners were also worried about deputy PM Armen Gevorgyan’s resignation; “He was dealing with our issues and he wasn’t finding a solution to them. Who's going to be next, will we have to explain everything all over again? We are 70 years old, these officials come and go, but we aren’t receiving our homes. When will we be able to enjoy our homes.”
When the protesters found out about Armen Gevorgyan’s resignation, they demandingly asked to meet with the Prime Minister, who had previously met with them a few times.
As noted on the Armenian government’s official site, Abrahamyan personally listened to the homeowners issues after the protest, while the developing Glendale Hills Company President, Vahe Yacoubian, clarified some of the issues raised by the protesters. However, the government did not release Yacoubian’s clarifications.