Author: Yerevan for People
Protest Against Mass Tree Cutting
A protest at Yerevan City Hall against mass tree cutting by the contractor Kanachapatum. Around 50 trees were cut down on Tumanyan Street. Protesters demanded an immediate end to the tree replacement program.
The city's contractor Kanachapatum cut down around 50 mature trees on Tumanyan and Melik-Adamyan streets in central Yerevan. This is part of City Hall's program (since 2023) to replace all maple, elm, and ash trees with more 'decorative' varieties — cercis trees from Italy, catalpas, and cherry blossoms. According to organizer Viktor Tsatryan, 'City Hall and Kanachapatum have a plan to cut down 60% of Yerevan's trees.'
In April 2024, around 200 Yerevan residents protested at City Hall against tree cutting. Mayor Tigran Avinyan came out to address the protesters and promised to suspend cutting and conduct an independent evaluation. However, according to Viktor Tsatryan, 'no evaluation was conducted, no information was made available, and in autumn 2024 and spring 2025 they started cutting down trees again.'
City Hall allocated around 150 million drams (over $386,000) for the tree replacement program. Authorities plan to plant around 2,000 new trees in total.
Stop the trimming and cutting of healthy trees by the MNKO 'Greenery and Environmental Protection'.
Not yet fulfilled
Return to the agreements between City Hall and the public reached in 2024.
Not yet fulfilled
Conduct a quality assessment of tree conditions using data from the Kanach Yerevan initiative and independent experts.
Not yet fulfilled
Announce a tender for a new city greenery contractor.
Not yet fulfilled
Establish a nature protection service in Yerevan.
Not yet fulfilled
Launch a prosecutor's review of the activities of MNKO 'Greenery and Environmental Protection'.
Not yet fulfilled
- Viktor Tsatryan held up a branch from a felled Tumanyan Street tree in front of the protesters. Kira Balayan (Kanach Yerevan) warned that cutting down trees would aggravate the summer heat, increase air pollution levels, and heighten the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
- Mayor Tigran Avinyan and City Hall representatives did not come out to meet the protesters (unlike last year's protest).
- After the mayor did not appear, protesters moved to Tumanyan Street where over 50 trees had been cut down the previous week.
- Participants estimated over 100 attendees (press reported 50). Police presence was 3–4 times larger than at the previous year's protest.
- Following the incident, civil society filed formal appeals to Yerevan Municipality (March 28) and the National Bureau of Expertise (March 31). Two applications were submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office (April 11 and 21), which forwarded the case to the Department for Crimes Against the Constitutional Order (April 22).
- Despite the protest, City Hall continued the tree replacement program. On March 31, the municipality officially responded to criticism, stating it was replacing diseased elm trees from the 1940s-50s with 15-year-old catalpas and cercis trees from Italy.
Lava Media
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- Lava MediaProtest against tree cutting in YerevanProtest against tree cutting in Yerevan
- Sputnik ArmeniaМассовая вырубка деревьев в Ереване: мэрия ответила на критикуMass tree cutting in Yerevan: City Hall responds to criticism
- smola.mediaЖители Еревана вышли на митинг против уничтожения 3 тысяч деревьев. Власти пообещали приостановить рубкиWeb ArchiveYerevan residents protested against the destruction of 3,000 trees. Authorities promised to suspend cutting
- CIVILNETВырубка деревьев в Ереване: больше вопросов, чем ответовTree cutting in Yerevan: more questions than answers
- marina.armeniaМитинг против вырубки деревьев в Ереване, 2024 годProtest against tree cutting in Yerevan, 2024
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- AMNewsНа улице Туманяна в Ереване продолжаются вырубки деревьевTree cutting continues on Tumanyan Street in Yerevan
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- Panorama.amНа улице Туманяна в Ереване вырублены 80 вязов, на их место высадят церцисы80 elms cut down on Tumanyan Street in Yerevan, to be replaced with cercis trees
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- ArmInfoОдна из партий требует провести расследование обстоятельств вырубки деревьев в центре ЕреванаOne of the parties demands an investigation into the circumstances of tree cutting in central Yerevan
- AravotОткрытое заявление в связи с ксенофобскими и расистскими высказываниями члена Совета старейшин Еревана Ани ХачатрянOpen statement regarding xenophobic and racist remarks by Yerevan Council of Elders member Ani Khachatryan
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- Sputnik Armenia"Беспрецедентный ущерб зеленым зонам": эколог об итогах работы мэрии Еревана"Unprecedented damage to green spaces": ecologist on the results of Yerevan City Hall's work
- Kanach YerevanСегодня в городе вновь начались массовые вырубки деревьев на улице ТуманянаMass tree cutting resumed today on Tumanyan Street
- Yerevan CommunityПризыв к стихийному протесту: деревья рубят прямо сейчас, нет времени ждать 25 мартаCall for spontaneous protest: trees are being cut right now, no time to wait until March 25
- Kanach YerevanВ чем проблема вырубки деревьев в Ереване? Информация от @kanach.yerevan, @savetreesyerevan и @yerevan_for_peopleWhat is the problem with tree cutting in Yerevan? Info from @kanach.yerevan, @savetreesyerevan and @yerevan_for_people
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