Epress.am News from Armenia
A group of Armenian citizens urge other citizens and residents of Armenia to follow their example and send a letter to RA President Serzh Sargsyan to protect Dragon (“Vishap”) Park on Gai Avenue in Yerevan (close to WaterWorld).
Note that the 2,000 square meters surrounding the park have been fenced in, seating in the park has been demolished and already trees are being cut down in preparations for construction work. As conveyed to the press by the authors of the letter, those carrying out the work informed residents of nearby buildings that someone “has taken” ownership of the area and that an 18-storey building is to be built there.
Activists are asking the Armenian president to intervene, particularly as the action is in violation of RA Land Code laws.
“The issue is not being televised; most likely those buying the public park are influential [figures], getting around the Land Code [law] that prohibits selling public parks and gardens. Residents of neighboring buildings, NGOs, those informed of the issue through the internet and the press and any interested parties who are horrified at the unlawfulness and pained by the regular loss of nature, culture, recreation area and another grain of violated rights [sic]. Please intervene, punish the officials who were bribed, conduct an environmental impact assessment of the area required by law (even at the request of the community and the public), and organize and record public hearings. Prior to the end of the procedure, please take immediate measures to stop construction work and remove construction equipment,” reads the letter.
[Editor’s note: at 5:11 pm local time on Nov. 24 “2,000 kilometers” was corrected to “2,000 square meters.”]