Speculations over the market started to be circulated when it became clear that its new owner, lawmaker and businessman Samvel Alexanyan had planned to renovate and re-equip it.

By the time Alexanyan was telling mass media representatives that simply cleaning works are carried out inside the market, a few days ago photographer Hayk Bianjyan posted some photos on Facebook, which clearly showed that serious construction works are done inside the market, using heavy machinery.

The indoor market which was put into operation in the 1950s in central Mashots Avenue of Yerevan has great architectural, engineering and historical-cultural value. Even foreign high ranking officials who visited Yerevan used to attend Pak Shuka and leave their notes in its memorial guestbook.

Architect Hrachya Poghosyan, member of the Architects Union, creator of a number of architectural projects (Yerevan’s ‘Rossia’ Cinema, Youth Palace, Sports and Concert Complex, etc.), told ArmeniaNow that the issue of the market’s renovation had not been discussed neither in architects’ nor in Yerevan municipality’s urban development councils, whereas Pak Shuka is included on the State List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments of Yerevan, and there should be a permission of corresponding bodies for its renovation.

On January 16, a group of NGOs and civil initiatives sent an open letter to Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan and Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan asking to suspend the construction works in the market.

The letter particularly demands to suspend the works, to discuss the changes in the market’s plan with corresponding departments of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia, to make the public aware of them according to the RA Law “On Urban Development” and to hold necessary discussions.