Tenants of retail outlets at Rossiya Mall shopping center hold  protest

ArmInfo.  Tenants of retail outlets at the Rossiya Mall shopping center, owned by Armenian billionaire Khachatur Sukiasyan (Grzo), held a protest in response to  demands to vacate their retail spaces by March 15.

As the protesters told reporters, they learned that the vacating of  the space is conditioned by plans to expand and renovate the area,  making it available to other brands. This process, they claim, is  being carried out without consultation with the tenants. The  protesters, meanwhile, revealed a contract stipulating that these  spaces must remain theirs until 2030. In the current situation,  approximately 1,000 residents, most of whom have worked in the area  for 15 to 20 years, face the threat of loss of livelihood, unpaid  loans, and social instability. They are demanding that they be  re-allocated to their retail space within a month of the completion  of the shopping center renovations, given that these spaces will be  occupied by new brand- name stores. The protesters have expressed  their willingness to accept a rent increase, but also claim that the  space currently offered by the mall administration in the "Yarmarka  Yerevan" shopping center is too small, and starting from scratch will  be extremely difficult, creating additional problems.

Representatives of the shopping center administration, meanwhile,  declined to comment to journalists, noting that they are prepared to  resolve the issues directly with the tenants and even accept their  statements outlining their concerns.

The protesters have written a collective statement and are collecting  signatures to submit to the mall's management. Arsen Sargsyan, leader  of the "For Democratic Statehood" party, also joined the protesters.   He stated that the Armenian government received ?270 million from the  European Commission intended for the development of small and  medium-sized businesses, but he believes these funds were not used  for their intended purpose. During the protest, he began collecting  signatures for another statement, which he plans to submit to the  Armenian government. "If the Armenian authorities don't make a  decision on this issue, we intend to appeal to the Council of  Europe," Sargsyan stated.

Later, the protesters headed to the shopping center to meet with  management and discuss their concerns.