The Chamber of Architects of Armenia has announced that construction work at the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex in Tsitsernakaberd has been temporarily suspended. The decision was made to ensure proper site setup and construction safety, and to continue restoration only on the three columns that have already been partially dismantled. Simultaneously, expert discussions will continue on engineering solutions and methodology for full restoration.
According to the statement, ongoing monitoring of the construction process will be conducted, involving representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MESCS), the president of the Chamber of Architects, and members of the project’s author group.
The Chamber also clarified that a previous statement circulated in its name by the Arthur Tarkhanyan Center was inaccurate. In contrast to that message, the Chamber’s council decided against publicizing the issue, opting instead for continued professional dialogue and, if necessary, seeking acceptable solutions within a technical framework involving all parties.
Discussion over the memorial’s restoration began within the Chamber following the first public concerns. A site inspection and a meeting with the project’s authors led to an extraordinary session of the MESCS Scientific-Methodical Council, initiated by the Chamber and attended by five of its council members, including Anahit Tarkhanyan.
The full-scale renovation of the Armenian Genocide Memorial began on October 8, 2024, with a planned state budget allocation of approximately 743 million AMD.
The statement concluded with a call for trust, vigilance, and responsible cooperation to protect and strengthen this historic national monument. The Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to clarifying professional issues and implementing necessary corrections.
Note: The restoration project is led by honored architect Sashur Kalashyan, one of the original co-authors of the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum-Institute.
