Tweet
FARE TREATMENT: ACTIVISTS STAGE PROTEST AGAINST TRANSPORT FARES; TWO DETAINED
http://www.armenianow.com/news/49667/armenia_public_transport_yerevan_fares_protest
NEWS | 31.10.13 | 14:45
Photolure
Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A group of young activists in a continuous struggle against the
decision on raising bus fares in the Armenian capital have held another
act of protest in front of the Yerevan City Hall, during which the
protestors and the police clashed. Two activists have been detained.
Thursday morning, representatives of the Armenian National Congress,
Heritage and Hayazn parties' youth wings made an attempt to enter
the municipality building to take part in the meeting of the City
Council members.
"Today was the meeting of the City Council, we wanted to participate as
well: the sessions are open for attendance, as provided for by the RA
legislation, but we were not permitted to enter, moreover the police
- typical of their work style of recent times - illegally took away
two of our friends Vahagn Minasyan and Dvin Isayans," says Activist
Armen Lazarian.
Hayazn party board member Armen Hovhannisyan adds that they had
drafted a joint statement to present during the meeting of the city
elders, saying that today's council of elders of Yerevan is no longer
an independent body and is failing to represent Yerevan residents'
public interest.
"First of all we demand to immediately annul the decision on raising
the bus fare and remove corrupt officials. If the City Council has
stepped out of the law and is no longer accountable to people, then
people will resort to acts of mass disobedience," says Hovhannisyan,
reminding that three activists had gone on a 100-day sit-in strike
demanding to "dismiss oligarchs, corrupt officials who stand out
for their criminal conduct", however the city hall did not respond,
by that becoming an accomplice in the criminal activities of present.
In July, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan suspended the application of
his decision to raise the transport fares (from 100 drams to 150 (36
cents) and from 50 to 100 (24 cents)) after a weeklong civil protest
in the Armenian capital. He also stated that a commission of experts
and concerned citizens would be formed to develop all the mechanisms
that would allow completing the decision on "Reconsideration of the
passenger transportation fares in Yerevan city". The civil activists,
not satisfied with this solution, continued the standoff and demanded
dismissal of several high-ranking officials.
Days ago first deputy mayor Kamo Arevyan said in reference to the
work of the transport commission that the public transport fare would
be raised in Yerevan in any case and that citizens would have to get
used to it, because it is a forced step dictated by increased expenses.
http://www.armenianow.com/news/49667/armenia_public_transport_yerevan_fares_protest
NEWS | 31.10.13 | 14:45
Photolure
Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A group of young activists in a continuous struggle against the
decision on raising bus fares in the Armenian capital have held another
act of protest in front of the Yerevan City Hall, during which the
protestors and the police clashed. Two activists have been detained.
Thursday morning, representatives of the Armenian National Congress,
Heritage and Hayazn parties' youth wings made an attempt to enter
the municipality building to take part in the meeting of the City
Council members.
"Today was the meeting of the City Council, we wanted to participate as
well: the sessions are open for attendance, as provided for by the RA
legislation, but we were not permitted to enter, moreover the police
- typical of their work style of recent times - illegally took away
two of our friends Vahagn Minasyan and Dvin Isayans," says Activist
Armen Lazarian.
Hayazn party board member Armen Hovhannisyan adds that they had
drafted a joint statement to present during the meeting of the city
elders, saying that today's council of elders of Yerevan is no longer
an independent body and is failing to represent Yerevan residents'
public interest.
"First of all we demand to immediately annul the decision on raising
the bus fare and remove corrupt officials. If the City Council has
stepped out of the law and is no longer accountable to people, then
people will resort to acts of mass disobedience," says Hovhannisyan,
reminding that three activists had gone on a 100-day sit-in strike
demanding to "dismiss oligarchs, corrupt officials who stand out
for their criminal conduct", however the city hall did not respond,
by that becoming an accomplice in the criminal activities of present.
In July, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan suspended the application of
his decision to raise the transport fares (from 100 drams to 150 (36
cents) and from 50 to 100 (24 cents)) after a weeklong civil protest
in the Armenian capital. He also stated that a commission of experts
and concerned citizens would be formed to develop all the mechanisms
that would allow completing the decision on "Reconsideration of the
passenger transportation fares in Yerevan city". The civil activists,
not satisfied with this solution, continued the standoff and demanded
dismissal of several high-ranking officials.
Days ago first deputy mayor Kamo Arevyan said in reference to the
work of the transport commission that the public transport fare would
be raised in Yerevan in any case and that citizens would have to get
used to it, because it is a forced step dictated by increased expenses.