Charges Initiated Against Yerevan Citizen for Not Decorating Property During Holidays

A Yerevan citizen faces administrative charges for not decorating his property ahead of New Year and Christmas holidays, local Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports, noting that “the authorities' reasons for fining people have apparently gone beyond the limits of unlawfulness.”

The paper has managed to obtain the Yerevan City Hall's summons inviting the citizen to take part in the administrative proceedings against him.

“A quote from the summons: 'You or your authorized representative are invited to the Department of Trade and Service of the Office of the Head of the Administrative District of Kentron to give explanation and/or file petitions for failing to implement mandatory refinement – i.e., the festive decorations for Christmas and New Year holidays – of Yerevan property and surrounding area.'

“We've understandably removed the address of the real estate, especially since it does not really matter. It should only be noted that we're talking about a very small piece of property, and a man is being held liable for not decorating it. 

“First of all, the concept of 'decoration' is relative. For some it may be a small Christmas tree, for others – garlands hanging over display windows. Or, say, huge portraits of [President] Serzh Sargsyan and [Mayor] Taron Margaryan. It is even more desirable that they be wearing Santa clothes, hugging and sporting broad smiles. Who's to say that Serzh Sargsyan's portrait is not the most important decoration? Is there an official who'd dare to publicly state that it's not an ornament?” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.