Businessman Seeking Northern Avenue Residents’ Eviction ‘Avoids Public Conversation’ with Homeowners

The firm Local Developers, which has gone to court seeking eviction of the residents of the old apartment buildings at 40 Pushkin St., 23 and 25 Teryan St., and 37 Lalayants St. on elite Northern Avenue in downtown Yerevan, refused on Friday to take part in a public discussion with the residents. The company rejected the invitation by Yerevan-based Media Center press club, claiming that the case is currently in court and “the time for talking has passed.”

Speaking at the discussion, Teryan 23 resident Vardan Geravetyan said the affected citizens agreed with company owner Samvel Mayrapetyan's statement – it really is no time to talk anymore: “We just want to tell them in their face, in front of reporters what's what. However, it's not the first time they avoid public conversation.”

Note, under Robert Kocharyan’s presidency the entire territory of the above-mentioned apartment buildings was announced eminent domain and sold by a Government decision to Local Developers [owned by notorious businessman, owner of the Second Armenian (H2) TV Channel Company Samvel Mayrapetyan]. A Yerevan court has already ruled in favor of the company in three cases obliging three apartment-owners to leave their homes within two months, and rejected the counter-suits filed by the citizens in demand of recovery of their right to private property. 

“At the same time, [the court granted] the motion for putting a ban on the property. Basically, it's been a few months since we've been prohibited from selling our own apartments; we are only allowed to sell them to Local Developers,” Geravetyan said.

Alfred Kzartmyan, Pushkin 4 resident, said during the discussion at the Media Center that the firm has not only violated his property rights, but also failed to estimate his land of 180 square meters and include the value in the total price offered for his apartment. A criminal case, the speaker added, has been launched into the issue.

“With great difficulty, a month ago I was finally recognized as a victim. Mayrapetyan is sponsored by Robert Kocharyan and [former Armenian deputy PM] Armen Gevorgyan. It's a criminal clan. The National Bureau of Expertise has estimated my apartment at $ 300 thousand, while Mayrapetyan offers only $ 200 000 for the apartment and the land,” Kzartmyan stated.