In a surprise move, Azerbaijani authorities released on Monday 16 people from custody, including the director of the only independent news agency in the country and an Israeli blogger.
The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church noted that while the Armenian people has suffered numerous tragedies and massacres throughout history, they have been reborn with a belief in Christ.
There are seven real estate boards in Sevan tasked with maintaining the buildings, most constructed in the Soviet-era.
Gohar Mnatsakanyan saw a need for a place in Sevan where the town’s young people could gather in a relaxed atmosphere to talk, and yes, even hone their creative juices.
Even though thousands visit the lake every year, in summer and increasingly now in the winter as well, the 20,000 or so residents of the town have seen little of the tourist money trickle down to them.
Other than sharing the same name, the lake and the town really have nothing in common.
The town of Sevan remains one of the most depressed and unimproved in all of Armenia. Basic infrastructure is a remnant of the Soviet era. Even the tourist sector that drives the economy remains unchanged for the most part.
Architect Vigen Hakobyan says that Sevan should have become a major town over the years; a modern tourist center to service and welcome visitors. Hakobyan notes that, on the contrary, Sevan is gradually getting smaller.
The pupils held aloft banners reading “Please review the decision”, “Don’t facilitate emigration”, and “The village must have a school”.
If there’s ever a 5.5 magnitude earthquake in Armenia, numerous school buildings will partly or fully collapse, resulting in large numbers of casualties and material losses.
Videos
Photos
