Epress.am News from Armenia
Nearly 5 dozen stall keepers in the open-air market on Yerevan’s Firdusi street today held a demonstration outside the Government offices, asking the authorities not to make them relocate from the market within a week. Recall, Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan decided on Monday that the traders had to leave the territory and relocate to other retail outlets as the Firdusi street itself and the nearby area is supposed to be rebuilt into an entertainment zone with an underground multi-facility center.
“Taron got himself elected by distributing 5-10 thousand dram bribes and now he wants to throw us to the stree?” one of the demonstrators demanded indignantly.
“Before the elections he chants about a more improved Yerevan, about a more secure country… Let them not come to us before elections from now on…” another demonstrator complained.
The traders nevertheless made sure to point out that they had come to the Government offices not to demand but to request that the authorities meet them halfway: “We have taken out loans to buy goods, so we are asking the Government, the Municipality to let us work until December 31 at least. We are humans after all; we just want time to sell the goods and pay off our loans. Then we promise we’ll look for other places to work.”
“Construction is not a day’s work. The home-owners on this street haven’t even signed contracts with the construction company. Even if they were to sign them today, construction might not begin for another year. So why do we have to leave the market now?” a demonstrator added.
One of the protesters later told our reporter that upon leaving today’s Cabinet sitting, Taron Margaryan’s assistant promised that the traders would be invited to the Municipality on Friday and given a chance to voice their concerns.