By Ani Gevorgyan

On June 23, employees of Armenia’s Judicial Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service, a separate subdivision of the Ministry of Justice, demolished a car wash and auto repair business in Yerevan that was the sole income generator for the Zakaryan family.

That same day, the Zakaryans filed a complaint with local police, arguing that the building belonged to them and that they have the documents to prove ownership.

Years ago, according to the Zakaryans, the government seized their house and land also located at 5 Abovyan Street.

Today, 70-year-old Yulya Zakaryan rents an apartment. So does her youngest son. Mrs. Zakaryan says her eldest daughter moved overseas, fed up with the injustice in Armenia.

Yulya Zakaryan: “We always stayed away from the garbage, but it found us since we live in the center.”

 “When the construction started, they promised us four apartments and four garages in a new building. Now, we don’t hold out hope to receive even one apartment.”

“We’ve lived here for five generations. They seized our house and constructed a building. They gave us nothing in return. Now, they’ve demolished the garages in order to grab that site as well.”

“They showed up and demolished it all in a few minutes.”

“My sons are artists, but opened a car repair shop in the garages. That’s how they made a living.”

“The others who worked there are also without a means to live.”

“We became a captive of our property. Many are eyeing the land, because those with money will not allow anyone one else besides them to own property in the center of town.

“They demolished the garages arguing that they weren’t in the official plan. But they don’t understand just how ridiculous they sound. All the documents exist.”

“If the garages don’t exist, how is it that I’ve paid property taxes for sixteen years? How is it that my sons incorporated a business?”

“The court decided to demolish the garages last summer. The decision states that they must be demolished ‘regardless’. So what justice are we talking about?”