Freedom-fighter against the Mother See
"I went to fight for our state and religion. I lost my hand and foot at the age of 22. I want to maintain a family by myself, but they are not letting me," says resident of Echmiadzin Nver Hovhannisyan.
Freedom-fighter Nver Hovhannisyan is married with two daughters and his parents are on pension. Hovhannisyan says he only earns money by working at the "Im Laura" cafe located at the Echmiadzin city park. He made investments with his friend in combat Alexan Bayanduryan, who is also a 1st degree disabled.
Nver Hovhannisyan says the café hasn't been open for the past year due to trials with the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church.
In 2000, Nver Hovhannisyan appealed to the Municipality of Echmiadzin for land allocation to set up his café.
Former mayor Yervand Aghvanyan allocated land with a 1,020 square meter surface at the city park. The decision went into effect by the notary in 2002 and the renting contract was signed for 60 years.
The participants of the Karabakh war state that everything was normal before 2009 when they received a notice from the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin stating that the café located in the park had to be handed. The entire territory of the Vagharshapat city park had been handed to the church with all property rights by the government's decision in 2005.
On February 1, the general jurisdiction court of Armavir province recognized N. Hovhannisyan's rights to the rented area as suspended.
Nver Hovhannisyan appealed the verdict at the Court of Appeals. He underlines that according to Point 1, Article 619 of the RA Civil Code, "the transfer of the right to property (an item handed for rent) to another person is not a basis for dissolving or changing a renting contract."
"I know very well that nothing will stop the Supreme Patriarch and that is why I will take this case to the European Court. I will also appeal to Serzh Sargsyan and Seyran Ohanyan," says Nver Hovhannisyan.
"A1+" also spoke to head of the Information Department of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, priest Vahram Melikyan.
"The deal between Nver Hovhannisan and the other side was signed with a number of violations of the law," says Father Vahram Melikyan, adding that Nver Hovhannisyan had been called to the Mother See several times and had been offered options, which he had refused.
Nver Hovhannisyan didn't deny that there was an offer, but clarified that he had stated that it would be better if the contract was signed for 10 years and if he was paid 30,000 dollars so that he could find new land and at least open a store.
"But when I told the Catholicosate about my offer, I was told that the Supreme Patriarch had regretted and there wouldn't be compensation," said Nver Hovhannisyan.
Priest Vahram Melikyan mentioned that the church will keep its word and will sign the agreement if Nver Hovhannisyan agrees.
