Taron Margaryan

Taron Margaryan — latest news, discussion & facts — IJR

Main activities

After being elected mayor, Taron Margaryan announced his strategy for the balanced development of Yerevan.

During his years in office, all administrative regions of schools specializing in sports or the arts were built and reconstructed, libraries were renovated, heating systems in schools and kindergartens were updated, and children who were residents of Yerevan were given the opportunity to attend kindergarten free of charge.

Additionally, in 2013 Taron Margaryan launched an initiative at the Yerevan Zoo, which heretofore had not had any work or improvements done since opening. The zoo now spans 7 by 16 hectares and renovations cost approximately 1 million AMD (US$2,100). Furthermore, in cooperation with the private sector, all districts in Yerevan had public parks built or rebuilt.

Taron Margaryan's years in office were marked by extensive road construction. Together with the Asian Development Bank, bypassing roads in Yerevan were constructed to ease and reduce city traffic. His leadership was also of use with the construction of a connecting street between Leningradyan street and Admiral Isakov street, as well as the Leningradyan-Kievyan road junction. He was also active in the construction of the connecting road between Ulnetsi street and Rubinyants street. Furthermore, Taron Margaryan's years in office were also marked by a complete modernization and transition to LED lighting systems from the former Soviet-era lighting systems.

Since his early years in office, Taron Margaryan spoke about the need for active information technology and the need for the active use of electronic control systems. Furthermore, in March 2016 Margaryan held a conference with the citizens of RA, receiving nearly 100 questions within 24 hours.

In 2014, the prestigious Rutgers University of Public Affairs and Administration E-School Institute located in the United States rated Yerevan as one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The overall index listed Seoul as the leading city of the world, followed by New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Yerevan.

Problems and criticism

Taron Margaryan's leadership is most often criticized due to architectural issues, especially in regards to the demolition of old buildings. Particularly, the central "Closed Market" or "Pak Shuka" and the demolition of No. 1 Printing building which was brought down by a method of blasting. In the latter case, although the building's privatization and construction permit existed before Taron Margaryan took office, the community nonetheless criticized the municipality for failing to prevent the destruction.

Taron Margaryan has also often been criticized by residents for transportation issues, especially in regards to the discussions of raising of transportation fees. Hence, in 2013, plans to raise transportation fees to 150 AMD were suspended after the mayor's orders. Furthermore, since 2013 Taron Margaryan has also been criticized for the problems in the field of waste management in the city of Yerevan. In response, the municipality awarded a ten-year waste management contract to Sanitek, a Lebanese company that began operations in Yerevan in December 2014. According to The Armenian Weekly, Nicholas Tawil served as CEO of the company during this period. The company initially replaced garbage containers and implemented scheduled garbage collection services. However, the contract was later terminated in October 2019 by Mayor Hayk Marutyan, citing service failures.

Numerous protests took place during Taron Margaryan's first few years in office on behalf of residents living in buildings considered to be dangerous of the 4th-category. They voiced their concerns in front of City Hall. In December 2015, Taron Margaryan handed out keys to new apartments to residents living in the dormitories located on Sisakyan 3, 4, and 127/1, Nor Aresh 35, Artsakh Street 10/2. The latter was the last phase of the resettlement program for families living in category-4 dangerous buildings.

As a result of the resettlement program, a total of 650 families were relocated to new apartments. Residents of damaged houses were resettled in the following addresses: 4 Northern 4th Lane No. 15, Bryussov St. 66th home, 4th Lane of Artsakh, and apartments located on 10/5 and 10/2.

Taron Margaryan was also criticized by the press for not having served in the army. However, Markaryan's mandatory military service was dismissed due to the fact that he already had 3 children upon graduating university. Taron Margaryan also initiated programs meant to strengthen army-society ties. Since the past few years, permission has been granted for parents in Yerevan to visit their children serving in the army twice a year. Such programs also aid in providing housing for the families of killed soldiers and freedom fighters.

During Taron Margaryan's years in office, he intensified Yerevan's international relations with other neighboring and capital cities, organizing mutual visits regularly. Moreover, Yerevan has 24 sister cities. Sister cities are included in the scope of cooperation in trade, science, technology, culture, health, tourism, construction, and other industries.

Taron Margaryan

Taron Margaryan

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