Yerevan City Hall Under Fire for Alleged Mismanagement
Yerevan, March 1, 2026 – Grigor Iskandaryan, a prominent member of the ‘Mother Armenia’ faction of the Yerevan City Council, has launched a scathing critique against Yerevan City Hall and its leadership, particularly Tigran Avinyan and his staff, for what he describes as failed governance of the city. Iskandaryan’s accusations, detailed in a Facebook post, highlight several key areas of alleged mismanagement, including the deteriorating condition of city roads, inadequate snow removal, and lax oversight of construction projects.
The ‘Guilty’ Salt: A Controversial Explanation for Potholes
Iskandaryan first targeted Avinyan’s explanation for the widespread potholes across Yerevan. Avinyan had previously attributed the damage to the record-breaking use of salt during winter months. Iskandaryan, however, refuted this claim during a City Council meeting, presenting evidence that he claims disproved Avinyan’s assertion. He alleges that Avinyan’s staff subsequently adopted his evidence while concealing their own culpability for the ‘trench-like’ potholes.
Rain and Builders Blamed for Failed Road Repairs
The council member further criticized the city’s attempts at pothole repair, describing them as failed public relations stunts. He pointed out that these efforts were undermined by rain, which, according to the city’s own justifications, washed away the repairs. Iskandaryan also highlighted a city hall operational meeting where it was revealed that builders were allegedly omitting bitumen during asphalt work to cut costs, leading to the formation of new potholes. While acknowledging the builders’ potential fault, Iskandaryan underscored that oversight of such projects is a crucial responsibility of the City Hall, a duty he claims they have also failed to uphold.
‘Unpredictable’ Snow and Icy Roads: A Recurring Problem
The most recent point of contention arose from the ‘unpredictable’ snowfall on February 27. Iskandaryan presented three possible scenarios for the city’s alleged inaction:
- Option 1: Tigran Avinyan and his staff believed the snow would not cause problems and remained idle.
- Option 2: Due to the ‘record-breaking’ salt usage mentioned earlier, the city had run out of salt and failed to procure new supplies, thus neglecting street cleaning.
- Option 3: The city opted to continue its ‘manipulative policy’ by not using salt to prevent potholes, inadvertently leading to widespread ice formation as temperatures dropped below freezing overnight.
These factors, according to Iskandaryan, resulted in Yerevan’s streets becoming dangerously icy, resembling a ‘skating rink’. He stressed that these incidents collectively demonstrate that Tigran Avinyan and his staff are not fit for their positions and are incapable of effectively managing the city of Yerevan.
Call for Action and Accountability
Iskandaryan concluded his post with a plea to the City Hall, urging them to listen to and act upon the problems and solutions proposed by council members. He emphasized that ultimately, it is the citizens of Yerevan who suffer from the current state of affairs. This criticism comes amidst broader concerns about urban infrastructure and public services in the Armenian capital.
Source: Grigor Iskandaryan’s Facebook page
