"The main priorities of the dismantling carried out by us through the administrative districts of Yerevan are sidewalks, parks, old carousels, unsightly-looking kiosks, which spoil the appearance of historical and cultural buildings and, from the perspective of Yerevan's architecture, have no place in the city," declared Yerevan Deputy Mayor Tigran Tigran at the year-end press conference today. Avinyan referring to the works related to the dismantling of illegal buildings.

According to the deputy mayor, this also has a preventive logic because, in the city. However, on a small scale, there are attempts to build voluntary buildings, "Recently, by the government's decision, we received the authority, which allows us to dismantle the strange structures and basements built on the roofs of apartment buildings."

According to Avinyan, we should revise our psychology.

"For example, there were parks where there were "meat passages", a pharmacy, there were parks where advertising screens were so big that it was unclear whether it was about the park or the screen. Our priority comes from the fact that we want to change the attitude towards the city. If you don't pollute your house or don't put big furniture in the corridor of your house, then by the same logic, you shouldn't build a kiosk or a building on the sidewalks of the city, or a private house on the roof of an apartment building," said the deputy mayor and added that there are relevant norms, and such buildings cause seismic and safety problems.

Tigran Avinyan said that this is a long-term process, it is necessary to start from one point, and they have started. According to the deputy mayor, their goal is not to demolish all independent structure, "There are self-built residential houses, which is a problem inherited from the Soviet years. We will solve it step by step. As for voluntary constructions in public areas, dangerous structures, buildings and kiosks built on sidewalks, the priority is different. And where is the public interest? Parks are a place to relax, not a place to run someone's business. If the public interest is there, we go after it, not after a house built 25 years ago."

Referring to the legal ingenuity of some people who are trying to find legal tricks in order not to dismantle the kiosk of the historical and cultural building, Tigran Avinyan said: "As much as they want to keep, we will find a way and demolish those stalls. And even if such people have the most inventive lawyers, let them be sure that there is no compromise with us on this issue."