Yerevan: garbage removal operator accuses Mayoralty of raiding

Tax inspections and fines are desolating the garbage collection operator in Yerevan and prevent it from duly and efficiently performing its work, the head of the "Sanitek" Company has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 13 a group of activists organized a protest action in connection with the problem of garbage removal in Yerevan. Residents of the capital of Armenia complained about overfull garbage tanks and mountains of rubbish in streets.

The Yerevan Mayoralty is purposefully depriving the company of its property, Nicholas Tavil, the head of "Sanitek", has stated at a press conference held via video link from Lebanon.

"Evidence of this pressure is a criminal case initiated against the company," Mr Tavil has stated. The case is not justified; it has a political context, he said. "The authorities set a goal to financially weaken the company with the aim of its subsequent expropriation," Mr Tavil has explained, stating that the company was preparing an appeal to the international arbitration.

In its turn, the Mayor of Yerevan believes that problems with garbage in the city arose because the operator fails to fulfil its contract terms.

On August 2, the edition "1in.am" wrote, referring to Ayk Marutyan, the Mayor of Yerevan, that the Mayoralty had inherited the garbage problem from the previous authorities. According to the Mayor, after the election, he set the task to solve it, "however, the company began seeking for 'reasons' of the problem – poor condition of the Nubarashen dump, and damaged containers."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 3, 2019 at 06:16 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.