Armenian Justice Minister: refusal to pay new fares for public transport not illegal
25.07.2013,
16:37
The refusal to pay new fares for public transport is not illegal, Armenian Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan told journalists today.
YEREVAN, July 25. /ARKA/. The refusal to pay new fares for public transport is not illegal, Armenian Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan told journalists today.
Starting from July 20, Yerevan residents have to pay 150 drams for traveling by buses and minibuses instead of the present 100 drams. Traveling by trolleybus will cost 100 drams instead of the current 50 drams. The subway fare remains unchanged, at 100 drams.
This price hike has triggered public backlash in Yerevan. Protests are being staged here with slogan “We Refuse to Pay 150 Drams!” representatives of show business, political activists and journalists have launched own protest campaign called Free Car. They are carrying people from remote areas of the city to downtown and back in their cars for free.
Besides, public activists are distributing leaflets calling people not to pay new fares.
Answering journalists’ question if the refusal to pay new fares is illegal, Tovmasyan said “No, this is not illegal”.
The minister was quoted by Novosti-Armenia as saying that the movement against the increase in public transport fates is a protest of the civil society, whose formation the nation owes also to the government.
Yesterday, Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan called on Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan to sort out the imbroglio. He asked the mayor whether he had signed the decision and whether it had been made public. Otherwise, he said, the decision is invalid. The decision signed by Margaryan appeared at the municipality’s official website in a few hours after the ombudsman’s request. ---0---
Starting from July 20, Yerevan residents have to pay 150 drams for traveling by buses and minibuses instead of the present 100 drams. Traveling by trolleybus will cost 100 drams instead of the current 50 drams. The subway fare remains unchanged, at 100 drams.
This price hike has triggered public backlash in Yerevan. Protests are being staged here with slogan “We Refuse to Pay 150 Drams!” representatives of show business, political activists and journalists have launched own protest campaign called Free Car. They are carrying people from remote areas of the city to downtown and back in their cars for free.
Besides, public activists are distributing leaflets calling people not to pay new fares.
Answering journalists’ question if the refusal to pay new fares is illegal, Tovmasyan said “No, this is not illegal”.
The minister was quoted by Novosti-Armenia as saying that the movement against the increase in public transport fates is a protest of the civil society, whose formation the nation owes also to the government.
Yesterday, Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan called on Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan to sort out the imbroglio. He asked the mayor whether he had signed the decision and whether it had been made public. Otherwise, he said, the decision is invalid. The decision signed by Margaryan appeared at the municipality’s official website in a few hours after the ombudsman’s request. ---0---
