A number of civic groups active in the fight to have the recently constructed kiosks in Mashtots Park dismantled have criticized the recent intervention of President Sargsyan and his directive to Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan to do just that.

The groups argue that the kiosks are illegal and should be dismantled according to the applicable laws on the books and not by presidential “fiat”.

They say that this is the purview of the Yerevan Municipality and Mayor Margaryan and that they must listen to public opinion rather than the aesthetic whims of the president in the matter.

The groups have also taken the president to task for praising the actions of the police in the Mashtots Park standoff between activists and the municipality.

The activists say that the cops should be evaluated based on how they protect the RA Constitution, the defense of public property and the defense of human rights.

Probably the biggest grip the activists have with the president is that he did not once mention the need to defend the rights of citizens when he directed the mayor to dismantle the kiosks.