The Forest in Tsaghkadzor Has Been Privatized: Trees Have Been Uprooted

Recently, Hetq documented a case of tree uprooting in the city of Tsaghkadzor following reports from citizens. Two excavators were seen uprooting dense-canopied trees as a road was being cleared. Deep holes had been dug in the area that had been destroyed.

During the filming, a man approached us, claiming to be a relative of the area’s owner, Davit Davtyan, and stated that they had permission to carry out the work since the area has been privatized. He did not introduce himself.

When we inquired about the permission he mentioned, he left and returned after some time, showing us a message on his mobile phone stating that the mayor of Tsaghkadzor, Narek Harutyunyan, does not object to the works proposed by the owner, Davit Davtyan, and suggests that the pruning and landscaping should be carried out without violating environmental and nature protection norms. However, it was unclear from that message what exactly the mayor does not object to.

Hetq has discovered that the 4-hectare forest area was privatized by Gagik Zakaryan, the nephew of the former mayor of Yerevan, Ervand Zakaryan. Years later, the ownership rights of the plot were transferred to the daughter of former MP and major businessman Samvel Aleksanyan and her husband.

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