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ARMENIA: NEW SOCIAL PROTESTS - 2
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 26 2013
26 July 2013 - 8:27am
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 on buses and minibuses, people will have to
pay 150 drams, and 100 drams on trolley buses instead of 50 drams.
Today the transport sphere of Armenia has all the conditions for owners
of companies which, first of all, always win tenders, and, secondly,
the state, unlike other countries, doesn't try to make any changes
in favor of society, i.e. the policy of providing a group of people
connected with power with excess profit is implemented in the sphere.
Protests can be successful. In 2005 the authorities tried to increase
ticket prices from 100 to 130 drams, but they failed due to protests
of citizens. However, the struggle of Yerevan's residents for their
social rights faces the game rules existing within the current regime;
the authorities are not interested in social opinion due to the system
of falsification of elections and impossibility of changing power.
At the same time, the protests have a local character, and there are
no signs that separate protests could turn into a big rebellion or
a powerful movement, like in 2007-2011. Then, political demands were
crucial; today numerous expressions of social indignation are aimed at
settling this or that social problem. This time the mayor of Yerevan
Taron Margaryan appeared at the center of criticism. However, it is
obvious that the mayor couldn't make the decision without support of
President Serge Sargsyan. The President probably didn't expect such
a big wave of dissatisfaction in society.
"When mass demonstrations began in Brazil, their female president
Dilma Rousseff postponed her official visit to Japan and called an
emergency session of the government. It was decided not to increase
ticket prices. What did Serge Sargyan do? He was away on vacation!"
the leader of the party of New Times Aram Karapetyan says.
PS: Yesterday at night the press service of the Mayor's Office in
Yerevan announced that Mayor Taron Margaryan had decided to stop
implementation of the order on increasing ticket prices.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/43099.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 26 2013
26 July 2013 - 8:27am
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 on buses and minibuses, people will have to
pay 150 drams, and 100 drams on trolley buses instead of 50 drams.
Today the transport sphere of Armenia has all the conditions for owners
of companies which, first of all, always win tenders, and, secondly,
the state, unlike other countries, doesn't try to make any changes
in favor of society, i.e. the policy of providing a group of people
connected with power with excess profit is implemented in the sphere.
Protests can be successful. In 2005 the authorities tried to increase
ticket prices from 100 to 130 drams, but they failed due to protests
of citizens. However, the struggle of Yerevan's residents for their
social rights faces the game rules existing within the current regime;
the authorities are not interested in social opinion due to the system
of falsification of elections and impossibility of changing power.
At the same time, the protests have a local character, and there are
no signs that separate protests could turn into a big rebellion or
a powerful movement, like in 2007-2011. Then, political demands were
crucial; today numerous expressions of social indignation are aimed at
settling this or that social problem. This time the mayor of Yerevan
Taron Margaryan appeared at the center of criticism. However, it is
obvious that the mayor couldn't make the decision without support of
President Serge Sargsyan. The President probably didn't expect such
a big wave of dissatisfaction in society.
"When mass demonstrations began in Brazil, their female president
Dilma Rousseff postponed her official visit to Japan and called an
emergency session of the government. It was decided not to increase
ticket prices. What did Serge Sargyan do? He was away on vacation!"
the leader of the party of New Times Aram Karapetyan says.
PS: Yesterday at night the press service of the Mayor's Office in
Yerevan announced that Mayor Taron Margaryan had decided to stop
implementation of the order on increasing ticket prices.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/43099.html