All the shops around Petak shopping market are open now—after the recent deadly explosion at the Surmalu shopping market across—, but no explanation has been given as to why only Petak is closed. Sargis Ghazaryan, a Petak market business owner carrying out a protest, told reporters about this Monday in front of Petak.

According to Ghazaryan, the deputy minister of emergencies had informed that the rescuers will take the Surmalu market road section under their control.

The business owner noted that the businesses at Petak shopping market are suffering financial losses due to the closure of this market.

Sargis Ghazaryan stated that solely the Petak market was closed during the two days of mourning that were declared last week in Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as a result of the tragic explosion at the Surmalu market.

"Our hearts ache from this [tragedy]. But the people have to live, too, right?" Ghazaryan added.

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."