Activists Protesting Shop Construction in Park Marched to Yerevan City Hall

Environmentalists and supporters who have been protesting nearly round-the-clock at Mashtots Park in Yerevan today marched to Yerevan City Hall, demanding the mayor annul his earlier decision and dismantle the shops being built in the park.

Recall, the Yerevan municipality authorized the construction after ordering the shop owners to relocate their businesses from large kiosks that stood on Abovyan St. until last month, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reported. They were dismantled, along with hundreds of sidewalk kiosks across the Armenian capital, only to be rebuilt in the park between Aram and Buzand streets next to the maternity hospital on Mashtots Ave.

The dozen or so activists who arrived at city hall were shouting “Taron, come!”, urging Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan to come out and speak with them. Approaching the activists was Acting Secretary of Yerevan City Hall Staff Sergey Makaryan, who first urged the activists not to chant insulting statements and then suggested they hand the letter they brought with them to him, explaining that the mayor is busy and cannot meet with them at this time.

Member of the civic movement “We are the owners of this city” Vahram Soghomonyan and several activists, after speaking with the city employee, agreed to give him the letter addressed to the mayor.

Then, as Makaryan was leaving, activists called out, “Shame! Shame” and again, “Taron, come!”

Protestors are now waiting for a response to their letter.