Deceived Apartment Owners are Prepared to Begin Hunger Strike Outside Presidential Residence

Residents promised units in new buildings constructed on Aram, Yekmalyan, Buzand and Saryan streets who were protesting outside the Armenian president’s residence on Monday gathered again today — this time staging a sit-in across the street from the presidential residence and the Marshal Baghramyan metro station. The frustrated residents are also talking about launching a hunger strike.

In 2006, the residents (whose apartments were recognized as public priority interest) agreed to leave their homes on the condition that they would be given new units in the new buildings to be constructed on the same site. For this they signed an agreement with a developer by the name of Gagik Papoyan, but the residents still haven’t received their new apartments — in fact, the units have been resold to third parties.

The residents say they no longer believe anyone and they won’t leave the area near the president’s resident until the president personally resolves the matter.

“We don’t believe the judicial system; there are very powerful ringleaders standing behind them. We are solely demanding a meeting with [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan; otherwise, we won’t leave from here. Let the president personally resolve this problem. If necessary, I’ll start a hunger strike. I haven’t done that, but I’ll do that too,” demonstrator Sona Maghakyan told Epress.am.

Some time after the demonstration began, one of the presidential staff, who refused to identify himself, invited a few people inside. Among them, Gohar Tatalyan met with head of the letters division Aida Asatryan. During the meeting Tatalyan said in 2007, then presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan promised to be by the people’s side and this is why she voted for him. And now she is asking that her voice be heard. Asatryan, the presidential staff member, assured her that Sargsyan is aware of the issue and the president’s office is dealing with it and the issue will be resolved.

Those gathered outside, however, insist that they won’t concede and will continue their sit-in until Sargsyan personally meets with them or they see a quick resolution to the issue.

A large number of police vehicles had arrived on the scene earlier.

Note, also joining the protest is French-Armenian entrepreneur Armenuhi Harutyunyan, who likewise bore the brunt of housing issues in Armenia.