This article is about the protests in Mashtots Park, Yerevan. For the wider movement, see Occupy movement.
Mashtots Park Movement (Armenian: Մաշտոցի պուրակի շարժում), also known as #SaveMashtotsPark and OccupyMashtots began as a sit-in on February 11, 2012 in Mashtots Park, Yerevan.[3] The protest was initiated by "This City Belongs to Us" civic initiative, and grew into a full-scale movement. The main issues were illegal or inadequate constructions, the destruction of trees and green zones in Yerevan, but now the questions of citizens' self-determination, fight against corruption and oligarchy, the prevalence of public interests over private have been raised. While the US occupy movements act against the bureaucratic system resulting in social and economic inequality, Mashtots Park Movement places itself in a different socioeconomic context - oligarchy, "people above the law" who, having economical and political resources, place their interests above those of the people.[4]
Mashtots Park Movement's roots are in eco-activist movements of late 2000s in Armenia, when civic initiatives were formed to protect several endangered aspects of Armenian nature - including Teghut forest,[5] Trchkan waterfall,[6] Kajaran,[7] and others; and the urban initiatives of Yerevan fighting for the preservation of the gardens, monuments, historical buildings and green zones.
Compensation for kiosks on Abovyan street
On January 18, 2011 Yerevan authorities began dismantling trade kiosks placed on downtown Abovyan Street. It was reported that as the kiosk owners had lease contracts and had made no breaches, the municipality had reached an agreement with them on the conditions of the dismantling - specifically, an agreement to compensate the dismantled kiosks by providing new ones on a new location.[8] While Yerevan Chief Architect Narek Sargsyan denied the rumors that the dismantled kiosks were to be moved to Aram Street, the municipality confirmed the news on January 30, 2011. Urban activists had staged a protest against the destruction of the green zone (later named Missak Manouchian Park) on the crossing of Mashtots Avenue and Aram Street in the center of Yerevan right besides Margaryan Maternity Hospital the previous day - January 29. Photographs show that the kiosk carcasses had already been assembled by that point - indicating an earlier date of construction.[9]
Activist reaction
Mashtots Park Movement of 2012
Mashtots Park Movement was initiated by civic activists trying to save the park from being turned into a trade zone with kiosks. The area was quickly dubbed "Mashtots park", a name it is known to the public now. Starting from February 11, 2012, when the activists were denied legal explanation for the construction, dozens of them organized a sit-in to halt the construction and save the park. A group of doctors from the nearby Polyclinic No. 2 and Yerevan State Medical University disapproved of the construction and its effects on the overall city health.[10] Activists started a petition to voice the public opinion and influence the city mayor Taron Margaryan. Some 10,000 people signed the petition.[11]
Escalation
First escalation: February 16–17
In the morning of February 16, day 6 of the sit-in the protesters set a polyethylene cover on the kiosk carcass they were occupying to protect themselves from the abundant snow, and were approached by three civilians, presumably - associated with the construction, demanding to take the cover off.
We told them we did not break any laws. 1–2 minutes later the police approached us and said the same thing - without any justification - that we must take the cover off and stand under the snow. We immediately called different MPs and the Ombudsman's Office. Told them we were doing a peaceful picket and that they are depriving us of essential means of protecting ourselves from the snow
— Ruzanna Grigoryan, protester
Kiosk carcass during the Mashtots Park Movement of 2012
Through the mediation of the RA Ombudsman's Office the cover remained intact.[12] Soon a concrete-mixing vehicle tried to enter Mashtots park to deliver concrete to the construction site. About 40 activists blocked the way of the truck to prevent it from reaching its destination, and the truck had to return because the concrete had become useless in the cold.
The police threatened to disperse the protest for violating public order, while the Ombudsman Office of Armenia interfered and argued that the peaceful protest did not violate public order.[13]
The next day the police made an attempt to disperse the picket by forcefully evicting the protestors from the kiosk they were occupying and surrounded the construction site, blocking protesters' and reporters' entrance.[14] The concrete-mixing vehicle returned later - only to face some 100 protesters, some of which lay in front of the truck to block its movement. The activists were told by Deputy Head of Yerevan Police Robert Melkonyan that a municipality representative would arrive at the park at 4PM to negotiate with them.[15]
The activists' hopes put on the Municipality weren't justified either: as agreed, the response concerning the ongoing situation should have been received from the municipality. At 4PM no municipality officials appeared at the park. Instead, the Art Manager of the Yerevan Chamber Theater, Ara Yernjakyan - a member of the Yerevan Council of Elders - arrived to meet the protesters. The situation got tense, yet a normal dialogue was initiated.
Yernjakyan argued that all the buildings in the park were temporary, the protesters countered by showing the latter were of concrete and bricks while temporary buildings could not be fixed to the ground and/or be made of those materials. They also pointed how a boutique was erected around a tree with a hole made on the roof for the top of the tree.
Heritage Party MP Anahit Bakhshyan, also in the park, stated that the construction was capital and not moveable and carried out by Gardening CJSC (Կենտրոն-Կանաչապատում), an organization which is to deal with lawns and trimming trees and not construction. The replied to the mayor's statement "You can apply to the court if you need", saying "By the time we apply to the court, they will have completed the construction".[16]
Gallery
Photograph taken by one of the activists lying on the ground to prevent a concrete-mixing truck from entering Mashtots Park.
Mashtots Park activists protesting in front of the city hall of Yerevan, Armenia on 20 February 2012.
^"The First Bolt of System". Lragir.am. April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Happenings at Mashtots Park". Armenian Environmental Network. February 26, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Protest continues at Mashtots Park". A1+. March 2, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^. ArmeniaNow. April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^. Environment News Service. July 11, 2007. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^. ArmeniaNow. November 4, 2011. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Protests Continue Over Mining Expansion in Kajaran". Asbarez.com. December 29, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Yerevan authorities begin dismantling kiosks on Abovyan street". ARKA News Agency. December 19, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Dismantled Abovyan St. Stores Offered Space in Mashtots Park". Hetq.am. December 30, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Doctors disapprove of construction at Mashtots Park". A1+. March 12, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Mashtots Park activists plan a protest in front of the Government building". Lurer.com. March 15, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Մաշտոցի այգին այսօր էլ փրկվեց (վիդեո)". Hetq.am. February 16, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
^. ArmeniaNow. February 16, 2012. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
^"Protestors Block Construction Truck at Mashtots Park". Hetq.am. February 17, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
^"Protesters lie in front of vehicle to ban its move". A1+. February 17, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
^. ArmeniaNow. February 17, 2012. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
External links
Mashtots Park Movement websites
#SaveMashtotsPark – the movement's English-language blog
Civic Tribune – an Armenian-language website dedicated to the Civic Tribune of Mashtots Park
– the website of the civic initiative
Facebook pages and groups affiliated with the movement
#SaveMashtotsPark – English-language page for the movement
Մե՛նք ենք այս քաղաքի տերը – "This city belongs to us" civic initiative
Մեր քաղաքը – "Our city" civic initiative
Քաղաքացիական Ամբիոն – Civic Tribune Facebook page
Փրկենք Թեղուտը – "Save Teghut" civic initiative
Related websites
Organize! – a coordination platform for civic initiatives in Armenia
EcoLur – a website dedicated to environmental activism and awareness
Armenian Environmental Network
January 01, 2023
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This article is about the protests in Mashtots Park Yerevan For the wider movement see Occupy movement Mashtots Park Movement Armenian Մաշտոցի պուրակի շարժում also known as SaveMashtotsPark and OccupyMashtots began as a sit in on February 11 2012 in Mashtots Park Yerevan 3 The protest was initiated by This City Belongs to Us civic initiative and grew into a full scale movement The main issues were illegal or inadequate constructions the destruction of trees and green zones in Yerevan but now the questions of citizens self determination fight against corruption and oligarchy the prevalence of public interests over private have been raised While the US occupy movements act against the bureaucratic system resulting in social and economic inequality Mashtots Park Movement places itself in a different socioeconomic context oligarchy people above the law who having economical and political resources place their interests above those of the people 4 Mashtots Park MovementPart of the Occupy movementTime for the Self Determined Citizen a Mashtots Park Movement posterDateFebruary 11 2012 2012 02 11 May 1 2012 2012 05 01 2 months 1 week and 4 days LocationMashtots Avenue Yerevan Armenia40 10 54 9214 N 44 30 34 78 E 40 181922611 N 44 5096611 E 40 181922611 44 5096611Caused byPreservation of public green areas environmental purposes civic activism self determination as citizens against oligarchyMethodsNon violent protest Civil disobedience Occupation Picketing Demonstrations Internet activismParties to the civil conflictEnvironmentalists 6 dismantling brigades of 10 people each 1 Government of Armenia Police of ArmeniaLead figuresNon centralized leadership Tigran KhzmalyanAndrias Ghukasyan Serzh Sargsyan President Taron Margaryan Yerevan Mayor Vladimir Gasparyan Police Chief Numberup to few hundred 300 activists march to the Yerevan city hall February 20 2012 2 Contents 1 The beginning of the movement 1 1 Background 1 2 Compensation for kiosks on Abovyan street 1 3 Activist reaction 2 Escalation 2 1 First escalation February 16 17 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksThe beginning of the movement EditBackground Edit Mashtots Park Movement s roots are in eco activist movements of late 2000s in Armenia when civic initiatives were formed to protect several endangered aspects of Armenian nature including Teghut forest 5 Trchkan waterfall 6 Kajaran 7 and others and the urban initiatives of Yerevan fighting for the preservation of the gardens monuments historical buildings and green zones Compensation for kiosks on Abovyan street Edit On January 18 2011 Yerevan authorities began dismantling trade kiosks placed on downtown Abovyan Street It was reported that as the kiosk owners had lease contracts and had made no breaches the municipality had reached an agreement with them on the conditions of the dismantling specifically an agreement to compensate the dismantled kiosks by providing new ones on a new location 8 While Yerevan Chief Architect Narek Sargsyan denied the rumors that the dismantled kiosks were to be moved to Aram Street the municipality confirmed the news on January 30 2011 Urban activists had staged a protest against the destruction of the green zone later named Missak Manouchian Park on the crossing of Mashtots Avenue and Aram Street in the center of Yerevan right besides Margaryan Maternity Hospital the previous day January 29 Photographs show that the kiosk carcasses had already been assembled by that point indicating an earlier date of construction 9 Activist reaction Edit Mashtots Park Movement of 2012 Mashtots Park Movement was initiated by civic activists trying to save the park from being turned into a trade zone with kiosks The area was quickly dubbed Mashtots park a name it is known to the public now Starting from February 11 2012 when the activists were denied legal explanation for the construction dozens of them organized a sit in to halt the construction and save the park A group of doctors from the nearby Polyclinic No 2 and Yerevan State Medical University disapproved of the construction and its effects on the overall city health 10 Activists started a petition to voice the public opinion and influence the city mayor Taron Margaryan Some 10 000 people signed the petition 11 Escalation EditFirst escalation February 16 17 Edit In the morning of February 16 day 6 of the sit in the protesters set a polyethylene cover on the kiosk carcass they were occupying to protect themselves from the abundant snow and were approached by three civilians presumably associated with the construction demanding to take the cover off We told them we did not break any laws 1 2 minutes later the police approached us and said the same thing without any justification that we must take the cover off and stand under the snow We immediately called different MPs and the Ombudsman s Office Told them we were doing a peaceful picket and that they are depriving us of essential means of protecting ourselves from the snow Ruzanna Grigoryan protester Kiosk carcass during the Mashtots Park Movement of 2012 Through the mediation of the RA Ombudsman s Office the cover remained intact 12 Soon a concrete mixing vehicle tried to enter Mashtots park to deliver concrete to the construction site About 40 activists blocked the way of the truck to prevent it from reaching its destination and the truck had to return because the concrete had become useless in the cold The police threatened to disperse the protest for violating public order while the Ombudsman Office of Armenia interfered and argued that the peaceful protest did not violate public order 13 The next day the police made an attempt to disperse the picket by forcefully evicting the protestors from the kiosk they were occupying and surrounded the construction site blocking protesters and reporters entrance 14 The concrete mixing vehicle returned later only to face some 100 protesters some of which lay in front of the truck to block its movement The activists were told by Deputy Head of Yerevan Police Robert Melkonyan that a municipality representative would arrive at the park at 4PM to negotiate with them 15 The activists hopes put on the Municipality weren t justified either as agreed the response concerning the ongoing situation should have been received from the municipality At 4PM no municipality officials appeared at the park Instead the Art Manager of the Yerevan Chamber Theater Ara Yernjakyan a member of the Yerevan Council of Elders arrived to meet the protesters The situation got tense yet a normal dialogue was initiated Yernjakyan argued that all the buildings in the park were temporary the protesters countered by showing the latter were of concrete and bricks while temporary buildings could not be fixed to the ground and or be made of those materials They also pointed how a boutique was erected around a tree with a hole made on the roof for the top of the tree Heritage Party MP Anahit Bakhshyan also in the park stated that the construction was capital and not moveable and carried out by Gardening CJSC Կենտրոն Կանաչապատում an organization which is to deal with lawns and trimming trees and not construction The replied to the mayor s statement You can apply to the court if you need saying By the time we apply to the court they will have completed the construction 16 Gallery Edit Photograph taken by one of the activists lying on the ground to prevent a concrete mixing truck from entering Mashtots Park Mashtots Park activists protesting in front of the city hall of Yerevan Armenia on 20 February 2012 Mashtots Park during the protests Mashtots Park during the protests Mashtots Park during the protestsSee also EditOccupy articles 99 Percent Declaration Law enforcement and the Occupy movement List of Occupy movement protest locations Occupy Our Homes Occupy Rose Parade Other protests 2008 Armenian presidential election protests Occupy Wall Street protests 15 October 2011 global protests Related articles Activism Empowered democracy Oligarchy Social peer to peer processes Waste management in Armenia List of protests in the 21st century Related portals Portals Society Politics Business and economics EnvironmentReferences Edit The First Bolt of System Lragir am April 15 2012 Retrieved April 24 2012 Happenings at Mashtots Park Armenian Environmental Network February 26 2012 Retrieved April 24 2012 Protest continues at Mashtots Park A1 March 2 2012 Retrieved April 24 2012 Experts Armenian oligarchy s fate at stake in Mashtots Park ArmeniaNow April 2 2012 Archived from the original on June 12 2018 Retrieved April 24 2012 Copper Mine Menaces Armenia s Teghut Forest Environment News Service July 11 2007 Archived from the original on October 7 2018 Retrieved April 24 2012 Trchkan Waterfall conservation saga ends in rare victory for Armenian environmentalists ArmeniaNow November 4 2011 Archived from the original on July 6 2018 Retrieved April 24 2012 Protests Continue Over Mining Expansion in Kajaran Asbarez com December 29 2011 Retrieved April 24 2012 Yerevan authorities begin dismantling kiosks on Abovyan street ARKA News Agency December 19 2011 Retrieved April 24 2012 Dismantled Abovyan St Stores Offered Space in Mashtots Park Hetq am December 30 2011 Retrieved April 24 2012 Doctors disapprove of construction at Mashtots Park A1 March 12 2012 Retrieved April 24 2012 Mashtots Park activists plan a protest in front of the Government building Lurer com March 15 2012 Retrieved April 24 2012 Մաշտոցի այգին այսօր էլ փրկվեց վիդեո Hetq am February 16 2012 Retrieved April 25 2012 Activists resume protests on Mashtots avenue to hinder builders work ArmeniaNow February 16 2012 Archived from the original on June 12 2018 Retrieved April 25 2012 Protestors Block Construction Truck at Mashtots Park Hetq am February 17 2012 Retrieved April 25 2012 Protesters lie in front of vehicle to ban its move A1 February 17 2012 Retrieved April 25 2012 Mashtots Park upstages Comedy Club construction is carried out by Gardening CJSC ArmeniaNow February 17 2012 Archived from the original on July 30 2013 Retrieved April 25 2012 External links EditMashtots Park Movement websites SaveMashtotsPark the movement s English language blog Civic Tribune an Armenian language website dedicated to the Civic Tribune of Mashtots Park This City Belongs to Us the website of the civic initiativeFacebook pages and groups affiliated with the movement SaveMashtotsPark English language page for the movement Մե նք ենք այս քաղաքի տերը This city belongs to us civic initiative Մեր քաղաքը Our city civic initiative Քաղաքացիական Ամբիոն Civic Tribune Facebook page Փրկենք Թեղուտը Save Teghut civic initiativeRelated websitesOrganize a coordination platform for civic initiatives in Armenia EcoLur a website dedicated to environmental activism and awareness Armenian Environmental Network Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mashtots Park Movement amp oldid 1071379553, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
