Armenian Ombudsman is concerned about the environmental activists.

On March 28, environmental activists, complaining against the installation of kiosks in Mashtots public park, have sent an open letter to the Chief of Police Vladimir Gasparyan reporting that they are going to dismantle the booths on 31st March, as well as requiring to ensure free access to booths of 10 citizens which will conduct the dismantling, ensure maintenance of public order during the works of dismantling and the security of the persons performing the work.

While supporting to the possible degree the activities of the environmental activists in the process of setting tents in Mashtots public park and expressing my readiness to find together the solution of the issue, I call upon the activists to refrain from dismantling the property of a private legal entity on their own initiatives; such actions can be considered as actions directly contradicting the requirements of the RA legislation leading to corresponding legal consequences.

We call upon our citizens to continue struggling for the sake of their views and convictions exclusively within legal processes and means not prohibited by the law. Before presenting to the public my final legal assessment of the issue I consider necessary to mention -as a general principle applicable to all situations- that even illegal actions should not be counteracted illegally.

The issue of legitimacy of setting tents in Mashtots public park is in process of analyzing and consideration by our staff; we are ready to cooperation with civil society organizations and individuals for finding the legal solution of the problem.