Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Samvel Alexanyan Will Be Arrested
Haik Aramyan
Monday, 02 September 2013

It’s been two days the civil movement Liberate Monument from Oligarch holds protest in front of the Covered Market. The owner of the building of the market MP Samvel Alexanyan has deployed his “entourage” and women who had already proved their combat readiness during the previous elections. Yesterday the women even celebrated their victory.
In this context, the statement of the representatives of the City Hall and the Ministry of Culture (the two government agencies which are in charge of this matter) on what is happening to the Covered Market is a violation of the law, and they are unable to do anything. In fact, these officials have reported a crime by means of the press.
According to the law, the Armenian law enforcement agencies, the Police and the Office of the Prosecutor General, have to follow up on this report, especially that its authors are state authorities. A criminal case must be brought, and the prosecutor general must solicit the parliament to strip the member of parliament of immunity.
Are the chief of police Vova Gasparyan and prosecutor general Aghvan Hovsepyan going to follow up on this report?
A few days is left till the end of Aghvan Hovsepyan’s office, and others will have to solicit the parliament. Besides, he is the president emeritus of Nig-Aparan Union of Compatriots, while the president and key donor is Samvel Alexanyan.
As to Vova Gasparyan, everything is clear – there must be an order from above. The point is that Samvel Alexanyan is also one of the main “donors” of the government.
There is another circumstance: Samvel Alexanyan has stated “officially” that he owns nothing, and it is all his wife’s property and business. And perhaps the law enforcement agencies need time to find out whether Samvel Alexanyan or his wife has violated the law.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Lfik Samo Went On Mashtots Avenue
Haik Aramyan
Monday, 02 September 2013

http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30789

Something symptomatic happened at the Covered Market of Yerevan. An action in defense of the Covered Market was expected, and Member of Parliament Alexanyan went on to take a preventive step. He mobilized a contingent from his companies and neighborhood and deployed them on Mashtots Avenue for a counteraction. It was really gorgeous. Women on the “payroll”, the mob of Malatia community, accidental people, “activists” transported by taxis who were explained their mission on the spot.
The participants of the civic movement took an interesting step. They did not arrive at the market, leaving Samvel Alexanyan alone with his contingent. And while the contingent is holding a demonstration, Samvel Alexanyan has appeared in an awkward situation.
He tried to tease the activists but was ridiculed instead. Now he has to ensure presence of people on Mashtots Avenue 24 hours a day. Civil activists will always be nearby. They may not appear at the Market for days but Samvel Alexanyan understands that they may appear there any time. After opening the supermarket he will have to keep there not only the police but also the mob until human dignity wakes up in the police and even the mob.
Yerevan is boiling, the people of Yerevan have at last got rid of the yoke of the authorities and political parties and set to defend the city from “capturers”. Samvel Alexanyan did not learn a lesson from case of his friend Ruben Hairapetyan, therefore he will always be a stranger and will be boycotted on Mashtots Avenue and in Yerevan generally. Like nobody goes to Ruben Hairapetyan’s restaurant in Avan, and those who go are reprehended.
At last Yerevan moved, and will put everyone in their places, their real places.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

MP Samvel Alexanyan incites clashes – oppositionist

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/09/02/tigran-khzmalyan/

Member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group Samvel Alexanyan incites clashes by making his workers take part in the protests near Yerevan’s Covered Market, the Preparliament member Tigran Khzmalyan told Tert.am.

“We will never allow then to implement their plans and organize a civil war in the country. Let them not even dream of that. But we have seen they are capable of it as well,” he said.

The civil initiative “To free historical monuments from oligarchs” held a protest in front of Yerevan’s Covered Market. However, a crowd arrived there earlier, crying out “Opening, opening!” “We demand work!” “Alexanyan is benefactor!”

Aggressive women attacked the journalists and citizens that protest the re-opening of the market.

“This is police abuse of citizens by oligarchs,” Khzalyan said.

The “Our City” initiative has released a statement by means of Facebook, informing the public that “unknown people were giving out vodka and chocolate to some people.” Also, citizens supportive of the opening of the market were given AMD 5,000 (about $12) each for taking part in the protest.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Something with plans showing what Aleksanyan actually had planning permission to do?

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Not from today

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Thanks for the heads up .

Is this from today?

[UrMistake]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Thanks for the heads up .

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Situation in front of Indoor Market of Yerevan is tense
by Karina Manukyan
Saturday, August 31, 17:10

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=A6DADB40-123E-11E3-B3140EB7C0D21663

A few dozen protesters have started their action in front of the Indoor Market of Yerevan. The protesters are discontent with the fact that despite the Armenian Culture Ministry's numerous statements about the illegality of the construction, the Indoor Market will shortly open as an ordinary supermarket.

ArmInfo's correspondent reports from the scene that the situation in front of the Indoor Market is already tense. A scuffle has occurred between the activists and the people who introduced themselves as the local residents. When more activists with Armenian flags and posters "This is our city" joined the protesters, the vengeful crowd attacked the protesters and tore apart some posters in a matter of seconds. The police have managed to establish order and at the moment the action of protest is going on in a rather tense atmosphere.

To note, the owner of the Indoor Market is oligarch-parliamentarian Samvel Alexanyan.

Police detain several participants in protest action near Indoor Market in Yerevan
by Karina Manukyan
Saturday, August 31, 17:10

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=C288E2B0-123E-11E3-B3140EB7C0D21663

The police have detained several participants in the protest action near the Indoor Market in Yerevan. ArmInfo's correspondent reports from the scene that the action is still going on, the police have managed to separate the activists and the crowd of the so-called "local residents". To note, those who introduce themselves as "local residents" support the construction of the supermarket in the area of the Indoor Market.

Unlike the members of the civil movement "Let's save the monument from the oligarch", the so-called "local residents" are rather aggressive and try to get through the police's blockade and talk to the activists.

The protesters are discontent with the fact that despite the Armenian Culture Ministry's numerous statements about the illegality of the construction, the Indoor Market will open as an ordinary supermarket on September 15. To note, the owner of the Indoor Market is oligarch-parliamentarian Samvel Alexanyan.

[UrMistake]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Agree and totally true that fact , some idiots will say owhh stop activism and thats the reason why we dont have tourism so much ! we dont want dirty markets atc .... i saw a woman posting that stuff already , supermarkets can be found everywhere the point was to be renovated so actual tourists would have to see something new or different than lets say what they have in Paris ...

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

The alterations have completely destroyed the concept of the original design, and also the purpose of the original design, which was to be the indoor equivalent of an open-air market square: a large, open, floor area protected from the weather but not needing artificial lighting. As well as dividing up the interior space, the ceiling level of the surviving roof has been lowered - probably for air conditioning and electrical ducts.

I suspect that the real goal of Aleksanyan was to remove the traders - small-scale capitalism by owner-suppliers is exactly what the criminal oligarchs like Aleksanyan do not want. They prefer to have a monopoly, and sell their own heavily processed and manaufactured products, often imported, rather than unprocessed local production. That's probably why Aleksanyan chose to destroy the covered market rather than go for the easier route and build a new, custom-built supermarket on another site.