Merchants of the Petak shopping market in Yerevan are carrying out a protest Monday in the area adjacent to this market.

They demand to reopen Petak, claiming that otherwise, the businesses are suffering economic losses.

Petak shopping market has been closed since August 14, when the tragic explosion at the adjacent Surmalu shopping market took place. According to the law enforcement officers, the shops nearby the aforesaid explosion site are closed due to the safety of the people. But the business owners in the area claim that they are not in any safety risk.

Sixteen people, including a pregnant woman and a small child, were killed in the powerful explosion at the Surmalu shopping market on August 14. One person is still considered missing In addition, 63 people were administered to hospitals, and three of them continue to receive treatment there. Also, 21 vehicles have been removed from under the rubble.

Criminal proceedings have been launched into the aforesaid explosion—and under the Criminal Code articles on "Violation of fire safety rules or requirements, which has negligently caused the death of a person or other serious consequences," and "Violation of rules or requirements for the storage, accounting, transportation, delivery or use of flammable or combustible materials, which has negligently caused the death of a person or other serious consequences."