Gyumri activists oppose government decision on Minas' frescoes

A non-governmental organization based in the city of Gyumri has voiced its opposition against a new government decision to replace two more murals by famous Armenian artist Minas.

In a statement released on Thursday, Vahan Tumasyan, the head of the Shirak Centre NGO, hailed the government's decision to restore those murals but said opposed to the idea of replacing them, adding that no public discussions were held in Gyumri as to where they should be installed after restoration.

"As much surprising is the statement at today's cabinet meeting by Deputy Culture Minister Arev Samuelyan, the person reporting on the issue, that Gyumri's municipal authorities, non-governmental organizations, public and cultural figures came up with a proposal to restore the murals and install them in Gyumri, " read the statement.

It comes after the government decided at a cabinet meeting on Thursday to restore the two aforementioned frescoes by the funds of Gyumri Municipality and install one of them in the municipality. The second one was decided to install in a private building that is still under construction in Gyumri.

"We are sure that there has been no such proposal from Gyumri," read the statement, adding that there could not possibly be such discussion simply because the Gyumri residents are still demanding the return of two other frescos by Minas that were restored and replaced to Yerevan - one hanging in the government building, and one in Zvartnots Airport.

Further, Tumasyan reminded that they sent a 450 page-long document with 8000 signatures to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, demanding the return of those murals but have not received any answer so far.