EUROPEAN COURT RULED 150 000 DOLLAR COMPENSATION TO CITIZEN OF ARMENIA
Lragir, Armenia
July 25 2007
On June 7, 2007 the European Court of Human Rights of Strasbourg passed
ruling on conciliation of the citizen of Armenia Gevorg Chugryan and
the Republic of Armenia. The citizen of Armenia will get 150 thousand
U.S. dollar compensation for his house in the center of Yerevan which
was demolished from the government, Gevorg Chugryan’s attorney Arthur
Grigoryan said July 25. This is the first case when the citizen of
Armenia who suffered from the public needs succeeds at the European
Court after getting no use from justice in Armenia.
The government paid a 47 thousand dollar compensation to Gevorg
Chugryan, whereas independent experts assessed his property at
190 thousand dollars. However, the Armenian courts’ rulings are in
favor of the government in all the cases involving citizens who were
evicted from their houses. Gevorg Chugryan knocked at the doors of
the European Court from May 2004 to June 7, 2007. By the way, the
Republic of Armenia agreed to sign a conciliation agreement with its
citizen and to pay another 150 thousand dollars after the European
justices who heard the case requested explanation from the Republic
of Armenia. Instead of explanations the Republic of Armenia offered
conciliation.
Besides, Arthur Grigoryan also informed that at present there are about
20 cases involving evicted citizens. And more cases of wrongdoings are
revealed. For instance, 1 square meter was assessed 330 dollars against
880 dollars for 1 square meters next door. This is arbitrariness,
which is prosecuted. On the other hand, the additional compensation
will be paid by the government, i.e. at the expense of tax payers.