Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Activists prepare to storm Indoor Market
by Karina Manukyan
Friday, August 30

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=64CA3CD0-1178-11E3-90990EB7C0D21663

The civil movement "Let's save the monument from the oligarch" is going to intensify the fight for maintenance of the Indoor Market.

Ani Kochar, an activist of the movement, said at today's press conference that on August 31 the activists will start peaceful actions in front of the Indoor Market and will constantly control the situation to prevent any attempts to continue the construction and repair in the Market. She does not rule out that the tension around the Market may escalate, because there may be provokers and corrupt "activists".

Kochar pointed at the Armenian Culture Ministry's repeated statements about the illegal construction in the area of the Indoor Market. Despite these statements, the construction was continued and almost completed. According to the media reports, the Indoor Market will open in mid September as an ordinary supermarket.

Activist Sarhat Petrosyan, in turn, pointed at the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage. According to the Convention and to the current legislation of Armenia, the state has the right to deprive the owner of the property rights in case the latter damages the monument.

The Civic Movement "Let's save the monument from the oligarch" has recently been set up in defense of the Indoor Market. Architect Sashur Kalashyan, activist Yeghia Nersisyan, analyst Garegin Chugaszyan, singer Artur Ispiryan and many other well-known people are among the members of the movement. The owner of the indoor market is oligarch-parliamentarian Samvel Aleksanyan.

The Indoor Market was built in 1952 by Armenian architect Grigory Aghababyan's project and has been considered one of the symbols of the Armenian capital since then. The repair inside the building has damaged the original exterior of the building. In early June, the municipality promised that the constructions erected inside the building would be demolished and the original appearance would be restored. However, these constructions have not been dismantled.

[TomServo]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

[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.

[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

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

Thanks for the heads up .

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Thanks for the heads up .

Is this from today?

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Not from today

[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

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.