Armenia’s Justice Minister Assures Protesting Homeowners their Case is Under Review

The matter of homeowners promised apartments in new buildings on Aram, Yekmalyan, Buzand and Saryan streets is being discussed; the appropriate agencies are dealing with this issue, said presidential chief of staff Vigen Sargsyan, speaking to the homeowners protesting outside the Government of Armenia building today.

“He approached us and said that our issues are being processed and they are dealing with this matter. We said we no longer believe any promises made verbally and we want the president to personally deal with the homeowners’ issues,” said protestor Sona Maghakyan.

Protestors were also approached by RA Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan, who told them he’s ready to meet with them.

“There’s an issue: one part is legislative; one part, the notary’s fault; one part, the poor level of legal knowledge of our residents. They’ve signed a contract, assuming they’re signing another contract; of course, the notary was to blame in certain cases, for not explaining to the parties what they’re signing and what consequences might follow. There’s a need for legislative amendments, and if we invest in a practical Latin notary system, we will have the following picture: the notary will bear 100% of the responsibility of any deal it ratified, but in this case the population has to be prepared for an increase in notary service fees. Citizens will get a100% guarantee in not only the purchase and sale of [apartments in] newly constructed buildings, but also all transactions. The notary will be responsible in the entire deal,” he said.

These issues have to be resolved, the minister added, and where the notary’s fault lies at this time will have to be determined.

“There’s a criminal case launched regarding this matter, but I have ordered an investigation, and all this is being examined. There are more than 500 cases; about 560 contracts have been signed, and they all have to be heard. That is, in signing, people understood that the apartment was already theirs. But actually, the contract they signed assumed no such thing. It wasn’t clear to them what they were signing,” said Tovmasyan.

Despite the justice minister’s assurances that the matter is being examined, the homeowners, speaking to Epress.am, said they don’t want to meet with Hrayr Tovmasyan, they want to meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. The disgruntled homeowners said they were prepared to come again to protest tomorrow.

Recall, 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 apartments 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.

Late last year, Armenia’s Special Investigation Service (SIS) launched a criminal case, but Papoyan cannot be found. The homeowners say the SIS informed them that that the case could take months as hundreds of people have to be questioned in connection with the case.