Hetq Online

This week's Hetq Online includes two more articles from Edik Baghdasarian and Ara Manoogian's long term investigation into trafficking of women and children to Dubai. From what I gather, the articles so far only scratch the surface and next week Edik will be publishing quite a few more which should really be an eye-opener. The two articles on trafficking accompany other articles on illegal construction in Yerevan as well as an update on government plans to address the problem of homelessness in the capital.

The problem of illegal construction is particular important given the recent destruction of Yerevan's parks and green areas. However, as this article points out, this phenomenon goes far wider than that, raising concerns about the structural safety of apartment buildings and the way the law does -- or rather doesn't -- function in Armenia.

In response to complaints by building residents, some people came from HaySeismShin (the Armenian seismic construction agency) and checked the architect's documents. It turned out among his papers, the seismic study, the agreement of the condominium, and the permission of the district municipality were missing. “They came, they saw, and they left, and we were comforted by the empty promise that Gagik Yeranosyan was going to reinforce the basement right away,” residents explained. Five years later, it still hasn't been reinforced.

The residents also said that Aghabekyan's three-floor complex was built on top of 8 Moskovyan with the permission of the former president of the condominium. They opposed it and tried to stop the huge crane from working when children and other people were nearby, but the president claimed that only he could give or refuse permission. He added that the person doing the unlawful building had a powerful backer, and so he was helpless against him.

We should note that our investigations have shown that the people who commit the worst violations of city building codes are all in positions of power—in the judicial system, the police, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Office of the President.

This week's articles from Hetq Online can be read at:

http://www.hetq.am

Posted by Onnik on March 03, 2005 | TrackBack | Email to a friend