Saturday, August 8, 2020
Ex-Police Chief Threatens Azatutyun Reporters Working Near Lake Sevan
August 08, 2020
• Robert Zargarian
Former Police Chief Vladimir Gasparian (file photo)
Former Armenian Police Chief Vladimir Gasparian on Saturday obstructed the work
of an RFE/RL Armenian Service (Azatutyun) crew working on a report about
government plans to dismantle some private houses illegally constructed near
Lake Sevan.
Gasparian, who served as Armenia’s police chief for seven years before being
dismissed from this post after the change of government in May 2018, drove his
vehicle in the direction of two Azatutyun reporters, almost running over them,
after seeing that they were filming in the lakeside area where his house is
presumably located.
Gasparian further threatened to physically destroy the reporters, using phrases
like “I’ll shoot you” and “I’ll slaughter you”. Using offensive language the
former police chief demanded that the reporters not show his house in the report.
The RFE/RL Armenian Service has reported the incident to police.
The Azatutyun reporters were working on a follow-up story after newly appointed
Environment Minister Romanos Petrosian said this week that authorities will
start the process of dismantling illegally constructed facilities and housing
near Lake Sevan already on August 10.
According to media reports, a number of houses belonging to several former
high-ranking officials, including Gasparian, are affected by the decision.
Earlier this week the newly appointed minister ordered the dismantling of a
lakeside resort where a party with the participation of a current pro-government
lawmaker had been staged in breach of coronavirus safety rules set by the
authorities.
Minister Petrosian then said that the turn was now for illegally constructed
facilities and housing around the lake that environmentalists say is endangered
by them.
Armenia - A view of Lake Sevan, 8Aug2020
“Here we have no legal issues, as there are no ownership rights pertaining to
these territories, consequently there are no prospects of legal actions [against
the government],” the minister said.
Environmentalists argue that illegal structures – both business facilities and
private houses – greatly damage the lake’s ecosystem, as a result of which for
several years now the usually blue Sevan waters have been turning green because
of vegetation at some places during the summer.
An environmental plan for Lake Sevan, which lies at 1,900 meters above sea
level, aims to raise its level, and the buildings that are to be demolished lie
below the level to which it is to be raised.
Raising the level of the lake, the largest body of fresh water in Armenia, has
been the stated goal of consecutive Armenian governments.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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