Yerevan Council member is startled by reading Municipality conclusio

Yerevan Council member is startled by reading Municipality conclusion
on public transport fare hike

July 27, 2013 | 14:58

YEREVAN. – Stiopa Safaryan, who is member of the opposition `Barev
[Hello], Yerevan’ faction in the Armenian capital city Yerevan Council
of Elders, was startled by reading the conclusion of the Municipality
contest commission, and with respect to increasing the public
transport fares in the city.

Safaryan himself noted the above-said during a Facebook press
conference by RFE/RL Armenian service.

`Does the mayor not know that a fare can be raised in the case of
objectively justified proposals? Does he not read the laws?’ Safaryan
said. `What does it mean that the private companies, which conduct
passenger transport, have loans? And who thinks [about the fact that]
any [Armenian] citizen has a loan and is unable to pay [it back]?’

The opposition figure also spoke about the protests.

`I was very impressed that the Facebook activists have a significant
contribution to the Free Car action. Very brilliant people have made a
great contribution, and, first and foremost, our youth did this,’
Safaryan stated.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the Yerevan Municipality
recent decision to increase the public transport fares in the city had
brought about outbursts, several groups were formed in the social
networks, and the initiatives were staging protests and distributing
pamphlets against this decision. In addition, the Free Car initiative
was launched, along the lines of which Armenia’s numerous well-known
personalities, MPs, and ordinary residents were providing – with their
own vehicles – free transportation to the people.

And on Thursday, Mayor Taron Margaryan suspended the decision on the
fare hike; but the wave of the aforesaid movement is still alive.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress