Tweet
ARMENIA: NEW SOCIAL PROTESTS
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 25 2013
25 July 2013 - 11:50am
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
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/43059.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 25 2013
25 July 2013 - 11:50am
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
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/43059.html