It is already a week firs and pines are sold on Baghramyan Street, near the residence of the President of Armenia. Seller Vardan Pilliposyan says the trees have been imported from Saratov, Russia.
A car loaded with over 700 fir trees was shipped to Georgia's Potty port from Saratov. The seller had the car cleared by the customs in Georgia and took the trees to Armenia. Now he spends 24 hours on Baghramyan Street trying to sell the firs.
Vardan Pilliposyan says the business is sanctioned by the Ministry of Nature Protection.
He has been able to sell 10 per cent of the trees in a week.
"The prices differ depending on the customer's appearance, wallet and preferences. If customers come in Jeeps we sell them at higher prices. Very often we give the trees free of charge to ordinary passers-by," said Vardan.
"We spend the night here to guard the trees at night," adds Vardan who hopes that trees will be of great demand especially on December 31.
In the seller's words no one from the president's residence has ever worried them during the last ten years. "We stand here only ten days and no one bothers us or demands to vacate the area. They seem to understand us and let us earn a few coins on the eve of the holiday. We are thankful to them."
Note that Vardan's neighbour was selling firs at 50-120 000 AMD.