Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The situation is tense in Armenia again. This time the reason for the mass protests of citizens is the decision by Yerevan’s administration to raise prices for public transport by 50% from July 20. Instead of 100 drams for a ticket in buses and minibuses, people will have to pay 150 drams, and 100 drams in trolley buses, instead of 50 drams.
The head of the Transport Department of Yerevan, Henrik Navasardyan, explained the increase of ticket prices was due to the growth of prices for diesel fuel from 370 to 450 drams. According to him, the majority of social transport uses diesel fuel; 60-70% of income is spent on fuel. At the same time, the official excluded the possibility of grants for transport from the mayor’s office, because “Yerevan’s budget had no such resources.”
Yerevan citizens were indignant at the price increase and the official explanation. People protested near the Mayor’s Office and demanded the decision on new prices be cancelled. Yerevan residents launched a full-scale campaign: along with protests near the Mayor’s Office, members of social groups formed social networks agitating for the mayor’s order to be ignored in all administrative districts of the capital. Young activists also agitate drivers to go on strike.
Many citizens are behaving firmly: they tear off the signs saying “150 drams for a ticket” and leave 100 drams for the drivers. The drivers try to react moderately. Only few of them have joined the campaign and stick up signs saying “Pay 100 drams.”
Popular artists and singers, as well as some MPs joined the protest. They are holding an action called “free car” – to give a ride to citizens for free.
According to independent experts, the recent rise in gas prices couldn’t influence a ticket price increase of 50%. According to Arman Musinyan, member of the Board of the opposition party Armenian National Congress, analysis of the ANC experts showed that the prime cost of riding a bus or minibus is only 83 drams.
To be continued
