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Vanadzor residents do not have a stadium. The RA Administrative Court, presided over by Judge Arshak Alaverdyan, is hearing the trial of the complaint submitted by “Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor”, human rights organization, against the resolutions made by the Vanadzor Community Avagani.

By resolution, the community Avagani has donated an area of 43,937.2 square kilometers to the RA Football Federation, so that they can construct a sport complex. By the same resolution, it has also donated 6,954.0 square kilometers of city property land for the same purpose, provided that the construction on the land is considered the property of the RA Football Federation. Hence, the stadium of Vanadzor and the 44,000 square kilometer piece of land is no longer the property of the city.

In court the representative of the human rights organization, advocate Edmon Marukyan, said that the community Avagani could not alienate the property belonging to the community by ownership rights. “Within the framework of the administrative act disputed by us, the Avagani has used its right, pursuant to which, it can alienate the property belonging to the community by an ownership right, but it has left out the mandatory condition, defined by law, according to which, during the alienation of the property the Avagani must define the alienation prices”, explains the advocate. However, the advocate is convinced that the property right of the community residents has been violated. They are being deprived of community land. “The community members are allowed to play in the stadium by permission of the Football Federation but there are no provisions in the contracts that the RA Football Federation must provide the area for free during Vanadzor community events. It is possible to define fees and they will. They will give the donated area for rent. Besides, there is no provision in the contracts that the RA Football Federation must provide the area for free during Vanadzor community events.

The opposing side, however, considers the claim groundless by finding that the Avagani members have acted within the framework of the law and by making such a decision they were led by community interests. They feel the community will get a chance to have a stadium with modern standards. “As the community does not have enough means to renovate the property, the Avagani in fact has saved the stadium from further demolition and has provided a chance for the community to have the land properly repairedto serve the needs of the community members”, is stated in the response to the claim.

Edmon Marukyan is concerned about the commitment undertaken by the RA Football Federation, explaining that the area belongs to the Federation and they will have to repair it. “It is not stipulated who is in charge of monitoring the construction work, the terms, and types of contribution, because the Municipality has no claim on the stadium.” In addition, it is stated in the Avagani resolutions that the property and land were donated to the RA Football Federation, but pursuant to the contracts, they were donated to “RA Football Federation” ULE. During the next court session, the RA Football Federation must present to the court documents, which will prove the connection of the RA Football Federation with the“RA Football Federation” ULE.

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