Yerevan City Hall Comments on Removal of Cross from “Pregomesh” Display
Yerevan, June 9, 2026 – The Yerevan City Hall has addressed the issue concerning the removal of a cross from the display window of the “Pregomesh” store located on Abovyan Street. Armen Arakelyan, Head of the Advertising Department at Yerevan City Hall, stated in an interview with Sputnik Armenia that an unauthorized advertisement was placed in the store’s window, which is subject to dismantling.
Sirusho Reports Instructions to Remove Cross
As previously reported, the founder of “Pregomesh,” singer Sirusho, announced that she had been instructed to remove the cross named “Etchmiadzin” from the shop window on Abovyan Street by June 11. She shared a conversation on her Instagram story where an employee informed her about the City Hall’s demand.
City Hall Cites Clear Advertising Standards
According to Armen Arakelyan, outdoor advertising standards in Yerevan are clear, and there is a specific procedure for obtaining permission to place advertisements. “This economic entity has permission to place an advertisement with the inscription ‘Pregomesh’ in Armenian and English on the facade of its store. However, we have not received any application for placing external advertising in the display window, so the economic entity does not have such permission,” Arakelyan explained.
He further clarified, “The economic entity has placed an unauthorized external advertisement. Employees of the relevant department of the administrative district informed the economic entity about the issue. Time has been given to dismantle the unauthorized advertisement.”
Unauthorized Advertisement Leads to Removal Order
The core of the issue lies in the absence of a permit for the specific item displayed in the window. While the “Pregomesh” sign itself is authorized, the cross, despite its cultural or religious significance, falls under the category of external advertising when placed in a commercial display without proper authorization. This highlights the strict adherence to urban planning and advertising regulations by the Yerevan City Hall.
Impact on Business and Public Reaction
The situation has drawn attention on social media, particularly following Sirusho’s public statements. While the City Hall emphasizes adherence to regulations, the incident has sparked discussions among the public regarding the balance between commercial regulations and freedom of expression or religious display in public-facing commercial spaces. The store is expected to comply with the order by the specified deadline.
This incident underscores the importance for businesses in Yerevan to ensure all external displays and advertisements comply with local regulations to avoid similar issues. The City Hall’s stance is that these regulations are uniformly applied to maintain order and aesthetic standards in the city’s public spaces.
