Civic Movement "Let's save the monument from the oligarch" has been set up in defense of the city indoor market. The owner of the indoor market is oligarch-parliamentarian Samvel Aleksanyan.
The Civic Movement says in a statement provided to ArmInfo the goal of the movement is to bring the owner responsible and make him pay for the damage caused to the monument and restore the monument to its original appearance. If the owner fails to fulfill the above demands, the Movement will dispute his right to property in the country. The Movement pledges to achieve the goals set on the basis of the country's legislation, Constitution, and the principles and standards of the International Law.
Civic Movement "Let's save the monument from the oligarch" has brought together architect Sashur Kalashyan, sculptor Vigen Avetisyan, honorable cultural worker Gagik Ginosyan, singer Arthur Ispiryan, conductor Vartan Hakobyan, system analyst Garegin Chukaszyan, publicist Vahram Martirosyan, activists Yeghya Nersisyan, architect Marina Parazyan, editor-in-chief of Ararat Magazine Alyona Simonyan, and lawyer Karo Yekhnuykyan.
To note, the Indoor Market is included in the list of the historical monuments of Yerevan. It 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 repairs inside the building has damaged the original appearance of the building.
In early June, the municipality promised that the constructions erected inside the building will be demolished and the original appearance will be restored. Nevertheless, Head of the Union of Architects of Armenia Mkrtich Minasyan claims that the building already has stories, which contradicts to the municipality's promises to restore the original appearance of the market.