Environmentalists “embrace” trees
Numerous young environmentalists today chained a building plot in Yerevan's Student Garden in protest of a construction threatening one of the city's few green spaces.
Some protesters were wearing gas-masks and carrying placards, "We are the Owners of This City," "Stop," "Return Us Our Gardens," "WE Say No to Concreting."
Commenting on the action, activist Mariam Sukhudyan told A1+ that they wanted to show their solidarity and willpower, they wanted the authorities to realize that the "city is not ownerless."
"We have formed a live barrier on the pavement showing our readiness to protect the park at any cost. We are against vandalism and we are for nature," said Sukhudyan.
The protesters left black ribbons and white carnations on the site area which, according to them, symbolized the dead conscience and lost mankind. They also laid flowers in clay pots at the statue of academician Victor Hambardzumanyan and stood in silence for a moment.
A dump truck trying to exit the site was turned back when it came upon the citizen activists determined to halt the further destruction of Yerevan's green spaces.
At the end of the action, the protesters "embraced" the trees and burnt incense near the trees and stumps.
Passers-by sign the environmentalists' petition to halt construction at the site.
