Residents of Firdusi Street carry out a protest action
Residents of the Firdusi district of Yerevan held a protest in front of the Ministry of Justice, claiming that their homes, which have been recognized as eminent domain (predominant public interest), are not being valued at their true market value.
According to the residents, the property appraisal process was conducted without proper study or site inspection. One resident reported that representatives of the appraisal organization did not visit their homes, did not perform necessary measurements or studies, and the final assessment was made without considering the actual condition of the property.
The protesting residents noted that they have sent numerous applications regarding the issue to various state structures, including the Prime Minister and the Human Rights Defender, but have received no results. They claim that this is not an issue of a single neighborhood or a few families, but a consequence of a systemic approach concerning all areas where property is recognized as eminent domain.
The residents are convinced that in such cases, the entire mechanism operates in favor of the interests of one or two developers, while the rights and legal interests of citizens remain unprotected. They state that after the recognition of public interest, people come under serious psychological pressure, realizing they are effectively facing the forced alienation of their property.
According to the residents, there are cases where the compensation offered for property located in the city center is insufficient to purchase an equivalent apartment even in the outskirts of Yerevan. They emphasize that they have already received eviction notices and find themselves in an uncertain situation, not knowing how to resolve their housing issue.
The residents recall that years ago, it was announced at the official level that the value per square meter of property in the Firdusi district would be appraised at a high rate; however, the actual compensation offered does not match those figures and is significantly lower than expected.
As a reminder, a large-scale urban development project is planned for the Firdusi district, within the framework of which a new residential neighborhood will be built, featuring residential buildings, business centers, and hotels.
