Yerevan protection initiatives union sent an open letter to president Sargsyan on the situation of the central enclosed market. The letter reads: "It is for nearly a year that explicit and consistent violations of law are committed in the heart of Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia. The building of Yerevan central No. 1 (Enclosed) market is included in the list of government protected immovable historical and cultural monuments as a monument of republic significance. Without a due permit, a proper design and an approval by relevant instances for the reconstruction of historical and cultural monuments it was subject to violent reconstruction process under the guise of repair work by the owner of the building.

From the very first day, the public has continuously warned of the on-going violations. As a result the construction works in the Enclosed market were stopped once by Yerevan municipality, provided that the work might resume should the monument repair work design be submitted and approval be issued by state authorities. Unfortunately, before the municipality decision the building was already partially destroyed barbarically. Besides both the municipality, and the ministries of culture and urban development and the owner of Closed market building assured and guaranteed that the repair works would in no way impact the building's facade, its constructive and dimensional-spatial solution.

Nevertheless, after it received permit to launch zero mark work, the owner of Enclosed market continued to illegally construct by destruction of half of the building from inside and inclusion of a new construction in it, which had nothing to do with either the initial version of the monument or any admissible version in consideration of scientific method approach.

Actually, historical and cultural monument was illegally and intentionally harmed. As a result, the monument lost the complexity of its image. Consistent violation of law continues up till now by responsible executive departments (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Urban Development, Yerevan municipality) caused by their passive and suspiciously indifferent standpoint. It is also obvious that the departments sought to evade responsibility, look to lay it on others, though the law clearly defines the order of processes related with protection and use of monuments, as well as the limits of responsibilities and obligations of the owner and any government body. Moreover, whereas the departments in charge continue to refrain from taking measures to stop that explicitly illegal vandalism, Yerevan loses one of its most prominent constructions, whereas the public loses its confidence in the idea of the rule of law in the Republic of Armenia.

On the other hand, in your keynote addresses, you always stress the significance of the principle of equality before the law, however this case is an example of selective use of law and it is difficult to imagine how the municipality will request to follow the law from other citizens engaged in urban development activity.

We address you as a person who shall strive to uphold the Constitution and to ensure the regular functioning of the legislative, executive and judicial powers. We request you to mediate as soon as possible in the created incomprehensible situation and prevent such cynical violation of law, which will result in destruction of one of Yerevan's symbolic and most favorite monuments. We request that the new construction in the market premises be dismantled as soon as possible and the monument be restored in its former form.