Decision to Demolish Cinema Moscow’s Open-Air Hall was Non-Transparent Decision, Say Alumni

The Union of Armenian Alumni of the International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) program has issued an open letter to RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan in which they expressed their concern for the possible demolition of Cinema Moscow’s Open-Air Hall.

In the letter, the union noted its concern that the RA Ministry of Culture removed the outdoor concert venue from its list of historical and cultural monuments to be preserved without feedback from the public and through non-transparent means.

Stemming from the principles of creating democratic establishments, and, in particular, from mandatory public participation in decisions about Yerevan’ public spaces, the IPS’ Union of Armenian Alumni requests that the Ministry review and withdraw the decision to demolish the open-air hall, as well as, in the future, abstaining from making decisions on managing public spaces and cultural values in the city of Yerevan without consulting the public.