Epress.am News from Armenia
Outside the Armenian government building today, joining the retired pilots protesting unpaid disability payments, protesting homeowners promised new apartments on Byuzand St. which they never received, and protesting parents of draftees killed during a period of non combat under questionable circumstances were residents of the Yerevan district Hope of Avan, created for socially disadvantaged families.
“The Hope of Avan has cracked — our hope, likewise,” said mothers of several children at the protest.
Angin Khachatryan, who the state has recognized as having second-level disability status, told Epress.am that her Karabakh war veteran husband and their 12 children live in inhumane conditions.
“I have 6 boys and 6 girls — soon my son will be 18 and he’ll be taken off to serve in the army. I’m not saying don’t take him, but do they know at least that this child doesn’t have anything to eat and is not in good health to be able to defend his homeland? Is it possible to trick the children with pasta all day? It’s been 15 days that they’ve shut off the gas supply because of our debt and we’ve been condemned to the cold — hunger wasn’t enough. Whoever we appeal to threatens us, saying we gave you the house, now what do you want?” described Khachatryan, adding that it was benefactors who gave them their homes.
The mother of 12 asserts that her family lives on 82,000 drams (about $211 USD) a month and it’s impossible to pay for utilities and other expenses with this amount.
“They came and took my neighbor’s gas meter; she owed 60,000 drams (about $154 USD). Then they came to her house to confiscate her furniture to cover the debt — the situation is so miserable that they couldn’t find anything to take and left empty handed. She has 6 grandchildren and her husband fought in Karabakh,” said Khachatryan.
Hope of Avan residents, mothers of several children each, who were protesting today say they are demanding a document that affirms they have many children which relevant authorities are not providing.