On June 16, 2014 Transparency International Anticorruption Center NGO sent a report on crime to RA Prosecutor General (cc Chief of Police) on demolishing Afrikyans’ House in Teryan Street, which is a historical and cultural monument of republican importance.

Being included in Appendix 2 of RA Government Decision N 1616-N of 7 October 2004 On the State List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments of Yerevan City under Relocation Afrikyans’ House was almost fully demolished (excluding the façade) under the pretext of relocation (noteworthily the term monument implies the whole building and not only the façade).

Irrespective of the offered arguments (broadening of Teryan Street, re-location of the monument, etc.) the incident contradicts RA laws and the international instruments ratified by the Republic of Armenia, in particular Article 21 of RA Law on Preservation and Utilization of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture and of the Historic Environment, which directly bans demolishing the monument. Article 264 of RA Criminal Code stipulates criminal responsibility for demolishing historical and cultural monuments by sentencing up to 5 years in prison.

By applying to the law enforcement bodies TIAC expects ensuring due process of the report and objective investigation of the identified facts in the report in the manner prescribed by RA Law on Criminal Procedure.

Below is the report on crime in Armenian.