Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

MONUMENT V. OLIGARCH: CRITICS SAY ALEXANYAN IGNORING REGULATIONS IN DEVELOPING "PAK SHUKA"

http://www.armenianow.com/society/44986/yerevan_covered_market_samvel_alexanyan_union_of_architects

SOCIETY 03.04.13

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Representatives of civil initiatives and architects concerned with
the future of Yerevan's famous Pak Shuka (indoor market on Mashtots
avenue) warn that despite the state ban to carry out construction
at the premises of the market - a cultural historical monument -
an active illegal construction is ongoing there.

Since early 2012 both civil activists and the union of architects,
and even the Yerevan city hall and culture ministry have been
trying to convince the current owner of the market, businessman,
MP Samvel Alexanyan that he has no right to do any construction on
its territory without prior approval of the architectural design by
respective bodies.

Even architect Semion Barseghyan, in charge of the market's restoration
planning and design, has stated that the plan is under discussion
and has not been finally approve yet; heavy machinery never leaves
the market premises nonetheless. According to some speculations the
underground parking lot is ready, and at this moment the market has
huge holes, most probably dug to make entries to the parking area.

So far the only untouched part is the facade of the building. The press
reports that the Republican MP who maintains that has no businesses
personally, is planning to open up another branch of Yerevan City
supermarket chain belonging, as he claims, to his family.

Chairman of the Union of Architects Mkrtich Minasyan and his deputy
Alexander Badalyan told media Wednesday that despite all their efforts
they are unable to stop the "barbarism" taking place at Pak Shuka.

Minasyan responded that they had turned to the Prosecutor General's
office with this issue, but the response they got was that whatever
is happening at the market is not of criminal nature.

On Tuesday a group of architects had addressed a petition to Yerevan
mayor Taron Margaryan asking him to "define the actions being applied
to the Central indoor market as cultural vandalism, file a lawsuit
against the owner demanding compensation for the damage caused to the
monument and depriving him of his ownership right for that property".

Minasyan, who was among those who had signed the petition, has no hope
that the issue will be solved, unless the president of the country
interferes himself. He sees no point in meeting Alexanyan.

"The comprehension level of such people is low; if you tell him you
are dealing with a monument, he won't get it, because there is an
urgent need for space to build his stores," says Minasyan.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Its destruction continues - half the roof is gone, and a new level has been added to the top (with what looks like a second level also under construction).

http://hetq.am/eng/news/24764/samvel-aleksanyan’s-“house”.html

Basically, it proves what everyone knows - nothing in Armenia is safe from destruction, and "protection" is meaningless. Aleksanyan has got away with doing exactly what he planned, and his nominal fine is just a minor additional expense, and was probably considerably cheaper than going through any planning permission process.

[Mos]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Maybe there were some Iranian bigwigs (or bigturbans ) paying a visit to the mosque to pray.

Possibly. Does anyone know if the Blue Mosque plays the Azan during all the prayer times?

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

And for some reason there are armed police guarding the entrance to the actual Mosque doors. At least when I was there.

Maybe there were some Iranian bigwigs (or bigturbans ) paying a visit to the mosque to pray.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

I don't see how Armenia's government is any more/less corrupt than most of it's neighbors

Don't you get tired of that "I might be smelly, but my neighbours also stink - so why should I wash!" excuse?

[hipeter924]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

The situation is this: as long as Armenia tolerates scum like Dodi Gago, and scum like the self-seeking neo-fascistic clergy, and has scum like Armanen and the gang of self-elected "Superior Armenians" to support them, Armenia is heading towards oblivion.

I don't see how Armenia's government is any more/less corrupt than most of it's neighbors, the main reason for economic under-performance in Armenia is a lack of trade routes and natural resources like oil or gas. As far as long term economic prospects are concerned however, some economists are already speculating about the end of the Azeri gas and oil boom i.e. the Aliyev regime may find itself out of a job, there are already millions of Azeri's in poverty; like those thousands of war refugees they keep in perpetual poverty and feed with propaganda and hatred.

[Mos]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

I love the Blue Mosque on Prospect street. Very beautiful design. I entered the courtyard once though to see how the renovation had went, and I was shown my way out after walking a bit there for some reason. And for some reason there are armed police guarding the entrance to the actual Mosque doors. At least when I was there.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Yerevan’s ‘Pak Shuka’: An Iconic Market’s Uncertain Future

http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/09/10/yerevans-pak-shuka-an-iconic-markets-uncertain-future/

I wonder if this article has been surpressed for several months - it is dated September but the last date mentioned in it is early June and all the photographs are from February.

Or maybe it is just Armenian Weekly displaying fake outrage now that it is safely too late to express real outrage with the inconvenient obligation to do something to stop the destruction.

He’s one of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, widely known as “Lfik Samo” (a nickname where “Lfik” comes from the Russian word for bra, as Samvel’s father owned a bra shop in Soviet times).

Is that really the correct translation. "Лфик" doesnt translate to anything in Google translate, and the Russian word for "bra" is completely different.

And there is also "Nemets Rubo" (Ruben Hayrapetyan) and "Samo Kaluga" (Samvel Karapetyan) - what do their names mean. Dodi Gago's fans (or employees) hate that his nikname appears on his Wikipedia article and are always trying to get it removed.

[UrMistake]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Thanks. If you can get new photos and post them here, that would be good!
Big supermarkets are secretive monopolies - small traders and market sellers can source their own supplies. I suppose that's why the oligarchs like the former and try to close down the latter.

this is sideway


This is the Blue Mosque right the opposite the market.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

And another one is demolished.

http://www.armenianow.com/society/38641/afrikyan_house_dismanting_yerevan_protest

"Architectural Alarm: Activists want to raise noise about razing of Afrikyan house"

I wonder if big game hunters can use the same excuse. "I didn't kill that rare white rhino - I merely dismantled it so I can use its dna to put it back together again somewhere more convenient."