VIDEO: Crying, Screaming, Shouting - Residents Strike Vehicles with Stones to Prevent Shack Demolition

The situation in the Shengavit administrative district of Yerevan remains tense as municipal officials, accompanied by a significant police presence, attempt to demolish six residential shacks. The area has seen the arrival of bulldozers.

According to NEWS.am, residents have blocked the road leading to the shacks with baby strollers, preventing access to their homes. The sounds of children crying and shouting can be heard from all directions.

Earlier, the website reported that on Friday, August 28, municipal workers unexpectedly notified the residents that their homes would be demolished and that they were to vacate the area, despite having lived in the shacks for over 30 years. The shacks are not privatized; according to the residents, they were gifted by benefactors and the area has been rehabilitated from what once was a dump.

There are five minor children in the homes, two of whom are under one year old. Residents told the site that they visited the Shengavit district head, Romik Khachatryan, that same day, but he stated that the order came from higher authorities and that he could do nothing.

Today, the Shengavit municipality, accompanied by a whole police battalion of about 50 individuals, has arrived on the scene.

Residents say that if they had been adequately informed at least two months in advance, they could have attempted to take action. However, within a single day, they did not have the opportunity to take their minor children, gather their belongings accumulated over 30 years, and find alternative housing. Some of them have disabilities, and there are disabled children among them; only one family member is employed.

Auroranews.am contacted the Yerevan city hall for clarification, where officials stated that they would provide information if it was made available.