MP proposed eradicating the practice of illegally privatizing and then selling state property

ArmInfo. Sisak Gabrielyan, a member of the National Assembly of Armenia, is proposing to regulate  legal relations related to the sale of real estate that belonged to  non-profit organizations during the ASSR period. 

This proposal aims to address situations, where the ownership rights of a non-profit  organization created in the Republic of Armenia were registered after  the republic gained independence. The initiative was presented during  the first reading on September 9 at a session of parliament.  

As Gabrielyan pointed out, according to data from the Cadastre  Committee, since the 1990s, over 27,000 units of real estate  (buildings and structures) have been privatized in Armenia by legal  entities and public organizations. This may be due to gaps in  legislation, or the use of corrupt schemes. The total market value of  these properties exceeds 1.5 billion drams. Then they were sold to  third parties, replaced by new buildings and structures, or left  unused and abandoned. For instance, the deputy mentioned a recent  media report revealing that the Spartak sports complex (owned by the  organization of the same name), in the center of the capital, along  with the adjacent buildings, was sold for 5 billion drams.

Meanwhile, according to the law, this property was state property,  Gabrielyan emphasized. The MP also pointed out a very   provision from a legal standpoint, in the Land Code of the Republic  of Armenia, adopted in 2003. According to this provision, all  property transferred to organizations for free use and possession by  that time automatically became their property. However, this property  should be considered the property of the state and the citizens of  the Republic of Armenia.  In this regard, he proposes regulating the  legal relations related to the alienation of such property in a  specific manner. Firstly, to make information about possible  alienation more accessible to citizens, and to oblige owners to hold  public hearings. , Sisak Gabrielyan said. Additionally, a procedure for giving  consent to the sale of property will be established - a transaction  can only be concluded  with the consent of 2/3 of the members of the  supreme governing body of a legal entity.  The government will  determine the list of properties that fall under this category.