THE ADVENTURES OF ARMEN FROM FRANCE IN SHUSHI
KarabakhOpen
21-12-2007 15:55:20
In Shushi everyone calls O. Racedgian from France Armen. In Stepanakert
too, they know him well, especially at the court and other law
enforcement agencies.
Armen moved to Shushi from Paris in 2004. He came with definite plans –
to set up businesses, create jobs, help develop tourism and services
in Shushi, and also to make some profit.
Armen got the approval of the regional administration and the Town
Hall legally, bought three premises and set up a computer center,
a realty agency and a souvenir shop. Soon people in Shushi started
calling him "photocopy 10 drams" because at that time a page of
photocopy cost 20 drams in Stepanakert.
Everything seemed to be okay. Although Armen who was used to life in
France had difficulty getting used to the post-Soviet ways, complicated
by the post-war syndrome. These ways are known to be based on the
interests of separate people and groups. However, he got used and
learned to "share".
Some time later pressure became stronger. They deprived Armen of
the premises he had bought legally. First he tried to explain to the
decision makers that it was his private property but he understood
it was pointless.
He filed a complaint. First the district court, then the Supreme
Court ruled that the government agency which made the decision
on "denationalization" of Armen’s buildings "acted illegally and
breached." the same courts, however, did not accuse those government
agencies and did not make them recover the immense damage to Armen.
Meanwhile, there are documents that Armen paid 8 thousand dollars for
only one the buildings to its previous owner, and it was confirmed
at the court.
Now Armen is at a loss. He says those who have power do not obey the
law but make others obey them as representatives of law and power. He
told several stories which may confuse a person but we do not doubt
that those stories are true because they were confirmed at the court
of law.
For instance, Armen told that he was invited to the Town Hall and
told that for the re-registration of the building two applications
are needed, one on disowning, the other on re-registration. Armen
wrote the applications. The Town Hall accepted the first and returned
the second. It turned out that he had "voluntarily" given away his
property which was provided to him for 99 years in accordance with
the first agreement.
"Now I don’t know what to do. I wrote a letter to the president,
they invited me and we had a talk but without any result. Friends
advise me to go back to France but I have decided to stay. I will
not leave. I have decided to reach my aim with the help of the
society since the law does not protect the interests of citizens,"
Armen says. Now he is preparing the documents for application for
the citizenship of Karabakh.
The Diaspora Armenians who intend to make investments in Shushi find
out that everything has been privatized in the town by a small group
of people.
They leave empty-handed, and town remains in ruins.
Meanwhile, our government is still calling compatriots to make
investments and to reconstruct Shushi.