Civilnet
Photo by Hayk Bianjyan
On the evening of June 9, activists who were trying to save a historic building, the Afrikyan Club from demolition were arrested by police. CivilNet’s reporter on the scene said that the activists, members of the civic initiative “Let’s Save the Afrikyan Club Building” began dismantling the metal bars around the structure at 21:00 hours. Approximately 1.5 hours later, police officers including red berets arrived at the scene. Initially they simply observed the operation of the activists. Later, scuffles broke out between police and several dozen activists. Vahagn Gevorgyan was taken by police to the Kentron police station.
The activists went to the police station where they were met by a wall of security forces. The red berets apprehended several activists including Vahagn Minasyan, Babken Der Grigorian, Dvin Isanyan, Anton Ivchenko, Artur Petrosyan, Hrayr Sazyan, Herbert Gevorgyan and Sipan Pashinyan. Several protesters were physically assaulted.
The civic initiative “Let’s Save the Afrikyan Club Building” had published a statement a day earlier raising concerns over the destruction of the Afrikyan building and called on all official state bodies to ban the construction of an anticipated hotel in its place and restore the building’s full architectural structure. According to the statement, “The Afrikyan Club building can be saved and it can serve as precedent for similar structures awaiting the same fate.” Below is the full text of the statement:
“Today the existence of the Afrikyan Club – one of the most unique architectural monuments that stands as a testimony to Yerevan’s rich history– is being threatened.
“The 130-year-old building is imprisoned behind posters promising ‘A Better Yerevan,’ meanwhile the roof, balcony and interior of the building have already collapsed and the metal bars that adorned the front part of the building have disappeared.
“However, the façade of the Afrikyan building is still intact with its unique and diverse ornate carvings. The bricks of the façade have been numbered and are to be moved. However during the last couple of years it’s become clear that those monuments that have been removed have not been restored elsewhere and the public does not know what has become of them.
“We’ve always been proud of our city’s rich past and with the illusory presence of the buildings that testify it’s past. We call our city “A Museum under an Open Sky Older than Rome,” meanwhile we are violating and destroying our history under that same open sky.
“We demand the halt of the illegal destruction of the Afrikyan building that has been initiated by the Yerevan Municipality. Moreover, official state bodies are obligated to ban the construction of a foreseen hotel in its place and restore the building’s full architectural structure.”
“If there’s a desire and will and the necessary knowledge, then private organizations and the Yerevan Municipality, which defends its interest in every way possible, can carry out their business plans by using such valuable monuments and giving them new life.
“What we want is not only to restore the city’s dismantled historical features, but also to protect the residents of 11 Teryan Street who are being forced out of their homes. We have seen this happen with other parts of Yerevan’s old downtown area. The protest of these residents has been left unanswered; monuments have been lost and have been replaced with tasteless new structures that don’t compliment the city’s architectural appearance.
“It is for this reason that we call on all concerned citizens to rise and save the last fragments of Yerevan’s history. The Afrikyan Club building can still be saved and can serve as precedent for all similar buildings awaiting the same fate.
“We have to bring an end to the imperious decision-making that is endangering our city’s past and future. This issue is not only about one architectural monument, but about our right to preserve and manage the cultural heritage that belongs to a legally responsible public as well.
“We call on all to be aware and ready to join the movement of protecting the Afrikyan building. We are following the preparatory work of the building’s demolition and are providing information on any new developments through social websites.”
The Afrikyan building, located on 11 Teryan Street, was built at the end of the 19th century. Based on a Government decision in 2004, the building was included in the state list of historical and cultural immovable monuments of the city of Yerevan as a national monument.
According to a new Government decision the Afrikyan building will be dismantled and rebuilt at another location. The building is included in the “Old Yerevan” program, which will be designed and implemented in the neighboring streets of Abovyan, Byuzand, Koghbatsi and Aram.
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