MEMBERS OF UNION OF THE DEAF OF ARMENIA ACCUSE THEIR CHAIRMAN OF ILLEGAL ALIENATING OF AREAS OWNED BY UNION

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. In fact, the Union of the Deaf of
Armenia does not exist, since the deaf mutes have not paid their
membership fees for many years, the links with branches have not been
maintained, while the areas owned by the Union are being alienated
at prices lower than their real value. Pertev Muradian, a member
of the Union, stated at the August 16 press conference that Zhora
Varagian, who has been the Union Chairman for 18 years, is to blame. In
connection with the complaints lodged by members of the Union, the RA
Ministry of Justice conducted checks, which have revealed numerous
violations. According to P. Muradian, the act that the Ministry
compiled in March 2005, gives all grounds for transferring the case for
preliminary investigation, and they will apply to court. Particularly,
P. Muradian said that as early as 2000, the ground floor of the
apartment house at 67, Koghbatsi St, Yerevan, covering an area of 217
square meters and owned by the Union, was alienated to a US citizen
for 11.3 mln drams (20.2 thousand dollars), whereas its real value
made 70-80 thousand dollars at that time. According to P. Muradian,
the Union chairman struck a bargain with the regional administration of
Lori, as result of which the Union’s Vanadzor complex worth 42.5 mln
drams (including its dormitory and adjacent buildings) was exchanged
for the former dormitory of the local technical college “Gyughshin” of
the total value of 10.5 mln drams. P. Muradian said that the Union’s
complex in Martuni was also alienated, and a decision has been made
to alienate the complex in Agarak and the upper three floors of the
first edicational and production complex of the Union.