PanARMENIAN.Net - Member of Parliament Garnik Danielyan, from the Hayastan faction, raised alarm over dangerous levels of air pollution in Yerevan, attributing the crisis to uncontrolled construction, mass destruction of green areas, and the authorities' irresponsible behavior.
In a Facebook post, Danielyan accused the government of offering inadequate explanations instead of taking immediate action. He criticized officials for blaming regional geography, "as if they aren't the ones issuing building permits in every corner of the capital or cutting down healthy trees in large numbers."
"Concerns about Yerevan's deteriorating air quality are justified," Danielyan wrote, citing data from the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center and air quality firm IQAir. "The health of our citizens, parents, and children is at risk."
He noted that some neighborhoods in Yerevan have recorded unprecedented pollution levels. Recently, the Avan-Arinj area reached 708 on the air quality index, reportedly the highest in the world.
"At this pace, Armenia will soon top the global list of countries with the worst air quality," he warned.
Danielyan stressed that construction companies are legally obliged to spray water several times a day at sites to reduce airborne dust, transport sand in enclosed containers, and use protective mesh to cover work surfaces. However, he questioned whether these norms are being enforced, noting widespread violations.
Other causes of air pollution include cars without catalytic converters, traffic congestion, landfills, mining operations, and, more recently, large-scale wildfires across Armenia.
Citing World Health Organization data, Danielyan noted that air pollution causes around 8 million deaths globally each year.
"This is a public health crisis and a threat to human life," he stated. "Authorities' negligence is unacceptable. Millions of dollars are spent on concerts and festivals while this urgent issue is ignored by city officials."
He called on citizens to demand decisive government action to reduce air pollution, saying, "This is their duty. They cannot avoid it."
Earlier, Mayor Avinyan claimed Yerevan's pollution is seasonal and mainly caused by geographic factors, including dry anticyclonic weather, dusty air from the southeast, and local topography.