OWNERS OF ALIENATED HOUSES DEMAND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE BILL

Panorama.am
18:18 26/09/06

People gathered in front of National Assembly demanded public hearings
of the law on alienation of property for public and state needs while
the parliament was discussing it. The extraordinary session was held
at the initiation of the executive. Grigor Harutunyan, secretary
of Justice Block, thinks if the text is not going to be changed
then the title must change into "Law on alienation of property for
team and authority needs." Hmaiak Hovhannisyan, independent deputy,
also thinks that any oligarch can buy the property which will be
alienated. Justice Minister Davit Harutunyan referred to European
Court practice saying that private physical entities may also buy
the property if there is a "public interest." He also assured that
the bill envisages "protection mechanisms so that the damage to the
owner will be minimal." The executive has also included a provision
in the bill upon the suggestion of the United Nations which says
compensation against property must be 10% higher than the market
price instead of previous 5%.

An owner, however, complained that $41850 was paid against 115.6
sq. meter space at 9 Buzand address, which is not enough to buy
another flat. Ms. Knarik said her 6-person family is living on rent
for a year now.