Second stage of renovation work gets underway at Tsitsernakaberd  Memorial Complex

ArmInfo. The second stage of renovation work has begun at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. According to the press service of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan visited the complex to inspect the grounds and review the progress of the  work.

She emphasized the importance of high-quality, proper, and timely  completion, noting that the improvement of the Armenian Genocide  Memorial Complex requires special responsibility.

According to the ministry, the second stage includes major  renovations to three more pylons of the Temple of Eternity.  Concurrently, renovations will begin on the museum section of the  complex. Construction is scheduled to be fully completed by the end  of this year.

The memorial complex will be open to visitors during the renovations.  The Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture recalled that the  first phase of the improvement program was completed in April. During  the work, the central, western, and eastern buildings of the memorial  complex, as well as the pylons of the Temple of Eternity, were  completely renovated. A new drainage system was built, waterproofing  of the pylon foundations and the memorial wall was completed, and  other work was carried out. Furthermore, a new walking path was  constructed along the memorial wall, the adjacent green area was  landscaped, and the irrigation network was completely renovated.

After April 24-Remembrance Day for the victims of the Armenian  Genocide of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire-opposition MP Lilit Galstyan  sharply criticized the restoration work at the Tsitsernakaberd  memorial complex. Posting photographs on her Facebook page, she  stated that monuments of national significance are not restored in  such a manner.

"Even with the naked eye, it's clear that the monument has been  literally distorted, irreversibly damaging its original architectural  concept and stonework," Galstyan wrote, noting the color mismatch of  the stone and the presence of poor-quality joints. According to her,  this incident demonstrates the waste of public funds and an  unprofessional approach to the work.

Representatives of the Chamber of Architects of Armenia also  expressed criticism. A statement signed by 172 architects noted that  the work is being carried out based on faulty architectural and  engineering solutions, which could lead to a compromise in the  monument's structural stability, as well as the loss of its original  appearance and artistic expression.

The architects demanded a comprehensive scientific survey of the  memorial, including photometric, ultrasound, materials science,  geological, and geophysical studies. They also called for a review of  the existing waterproofing and drainage system designs, which they  consider insufficiently developed, and for new solutions to be  developed with the involvement of an independent professional group.

As a reminder, in October 2024, the Ministry of Education, Science,  Culture, and Sports of Armenia announced the commencement of major  renovations to the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and the  Tsitsernakaberd Museum on October 8. The work is being funded by  state funding of 743 million drams (approximately $2 million).

The contractor is the construction company Bidek LLC, which won the  open tender. The design team is led by Honored Architect of Armenia  Sashur Kalashyan, co-author of the design for the Armenian Genocide  Memorial Complex and the museum-institute of the same name, built  almost 60 years ago.