Gagik Beglaryan backs construction of trade pavilions in Mashtots Park in Yerevan, environmentalists say

• Tuesday, February 21, 04:13

Despite protest actions against construction of trade pavilions in the Mashtots Park, construction is continued even at nighttime.

Lawyer Mery Khachatryan told media on February 21 that construction was resumed overnight. The leadership of the nearby hospital and the maternity clinic responded in no way to the construction noise. "It is simply silly. The police was on duty at night in order the green activists do not create obstacles to the construction. The entire Internet is laughing at such situation," she said. Khchatryan said that Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan has not yet expressed desire to meet with the activists. "Instead, we are reluctant to communicate with top police officials," she said.

Karine Danielyan, Head of the Association For Sustainable Development says that owners of the pavilions are ex-mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan and ex-minister of transport and communication Eduard Madatyan. "At least, their names are mentioned by Mass Media," she says. Danielyan suggests meeting with the owner of the pavilions to put an end to that dispute.

It would be legally based as the municipality has a right to suspend the contact with the owners, stop construction and hold public hearings. However, given the response by architect Levon Igityan, who is a member of the Elder's Council of Yerevan, the municipality will go on such step only when pigs begin to fly.

"I believe that these pavilions are temporary. Why they are built of concrete? They can't be built on soil, can they? Let's not war in the streets. I know some activists, they were my students and they were rather middling. I did not visit the park. Are trees damaged in the construction site? Should I care also for trees now?" there are some of Igityan's "gems" made in the press conference, Tuesday.