'The situation is not hopeless': Samvel Karapetyan vows to make Yerevan a metropolis

Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan on Monday issued a new message from his detention facility ahead of Yerevan’s upcoming anniversary.

He stressed his love for the capital but noted that today’s Yerevan “does not reflect the status of a capital for 10 million Armenians”. Karapetyan pointed to problems ranging from chaotic architecture and the lack of green spaces to weak tourism infrastructure and the absence of ambitious urban development programs.

“Real progress cannot be measured by road paving or purchase of buses,” he said, calling for a vision that would transform Yerevan into a regional hub of education and healthcare, known for international universities and world-class medical services.

"The situation is not hopeless," Karapetyan said, adding that his Our Way (Mer Dzevov) movement will soon outlie solutions and large-scale investment projects aimed at revitalizing housing, modernizing transport and redesigning courtyards and building facades in line with international best practices.

“We shall make Yerevan a true Pan-Armenian capital, a vibrant metropolis comfortable for living and working. We want news about Yerevan to focus not on demolitions, but on new achievements and major development projects,” reads the message.