Author: Kalantarian Kevo

WESTON RESIDENT GETS ANOTHER CHANCE AT JUDGESHIP

Wicked Local- Weston, MA
Feb 27 2014

By Colleen Quinn
State House News Service

Attorney Joseph Berman of Weston, whose nomination for a seat on
the Superior Court has been shrouded in controversy, got another
shot Wednesday to convince the Governor’s Council he would make a
good judge, apologizing for some impressions he may have left with
council members during his initial vetting.

Attorney Joseph Berman of Weston, whose nomination for a seat on
the Superior Court has been shrouded in controversy, got another
shot Wednesday to convince the Governor’s Council he would make a
good judge, apologizing for some impressions he may have left with
council members during his initial vetting.

“I am grateful for today’s second chance to show you who I am, what
drives me, and how I have taken your concerns to heart,” Berman said.

Berman waited quietly for nearly two-and-half hours before he first
spoke while witnesses spoke for and against his nomination.

Gov. Deval Patrick withdrew Berman’s nomination last week and
resubmitted it in order to give his nominee another hearing. After his
November hearing, a majority of council members said they planned to
vote against Berman. Patrick delayed the vote and has tried to sway
council members.

Councilors cited concerns about Berman’s hefty campaign contributions
to Democratic candidates, his representation of a prisoner at
a Guantanamo Bay detention camp, and his leadership role in
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) – an organization that refused
to recognize the Armenian genocide, and worked against efforts in
Congress to acknowledge it, critics charge.

Some councilors questioned why he did not resign from his position as
a board member of the New England chapter of the ADL because of the
organization’s stance on the genocide by the Turks that took place
in the early 20th century.

Witnesses spoke against Berman becoming a judge because of his
leadership role in the ADL, the international organization that was
founded in 1913 to fight anti-Semitism.

David Boyajian, who described himself as a member of the
Armenian-American community, lambasted the ADL for its refusal to
recognize the Armenian genocide and for “consciously and deliberately”
working to defeat genocide resolutions in the U.S. Congress. He
questioned why Berman, as a national and regional board member, did not
speak out publicly against the ADL’s stance on the Armenian genocide
when he says he does not support it, and why he did not resign.

“Surely the New England ADL and its commissioners, including Mr.

Berman, knew what the national ADL was up to. Did they ever speak out?

No,” Boyajian said.

Boyajian pointed out that the Massachusetts Municipal Association,
and several Massachusetts communities, cut ties with the ADL’s “No
Place for Hate” campaign in 2007-08 in the wake of the controversy
that became an international affair.

During his first confirmation hearing, Berman said he thought about
resigning, but decided against it because of the good work the ADL
does. Boyajian said that was not good enough.

“Did Mr. Berman ever speak out publicly? No,” Boyajian said.

“Only now are we hearing from Mr. Berman on the Armenian genocide
issue just when he wishes to become a judge,” Boyajian said.

Boyajian said the ADL must apologize to Armenians and recognize the
genocide unambiguously. He asked the Governor’s Council to reject
Berman’s nomination because he is a “top member of an organization
that engages in genocide denial.”

Councilor Christopher Iannella told Boyajian he understands his
opposition to the nominee because of the history between the ADL and
the Armenian community, but wanted to know if he had any personal
knowledge of Berman’s trial experience and demeanor. Boyajian did not.

“I look at character. I look at experience. I look at demeanor. I am
not diminishing what you say,” Iannella said.

Councilor Terrence Kennedy said he appreciates Boyajian’s passion,
but added he does not think it is inconsistent to recognize the
Armenian genocide and to vote in favor of Berman at the same time.

“I think he was very clear, in his testimony last time, that he tried
to get the policy changed,” Kennedy said.

Councilor Jennie Caissie said she is concerned about “truthfulness
and veracity” of a judicial nominee and questioned Berman’s statement
during the last hearing that he led an “insurrection” at the New
England chapter to change national ADL policy. Caissie said Berman
could not provide any verification that he actively worked to fight
the ADL’s stance on the Armenian genocide.

Councilor Robert Jubinville said, “I guess for me, it is about Mr.

Berman.” He added that “there are times when I should have spoken up
about issues and I didn’t, and I regret it.”

Councilor Marilyn Devaney asked Boyajian if the national ADL has
ever recognized the Armenian genocide. Boyajian said the national ADL
has never “forthrightly” acknowledged the genocide, and continues to
fight genocide resolutions in the U.S. Congress.

Devaney said she was called “ignorant” in editorials in The Boston
Herald and The Boston Globe. “I just want to make that clear, that
I’m not ignorant,” she said. Several council members defended Devaney,
saying she was criticized unfairly.

Criticisms of the council made headlines in Boston newspaper editorials
after Berman’s first confirmation hearing. They were chastised for
making his membership in the ADL an issue.

Berman is a partner at the Boston law firm Looney & Grossman. He
graduated from Dartmouth College and received his law degree from the
University of Michigan Law School. His practice focuses on commercial
litigation.

Berman thanked the council for giving him another hearing, adding he
respects the state Constitutional process that dictates how judges are
selected and “for the indispensible role of the Governor’s Council.”

“I know I will be a better judge because of this process. This process
has given me a chance for self-reflection and a recognition that I
always have more to learn,” he said.

He addressed concerns about political donations, his understanding
of drug addiction, and philosophy of a judge’s role.

Berman apologized for impressions he may have given some council
members that he does not understand drug addiction. Since the first
hearing, he said he educated himself more on addiction, reading a
book recommended to him by Jubinville and spending time in a Newton
drug court. He also took a course related to drug addiction.

During the last hearing, Berman was also criticized for hefty campaign
contributions, approximately $110,000 during the past decade, largely
to campaigns at the federal level. At the hearing, he was asked how
much he gives to charity. Afterward, Berman submitted a list detailing
his family’s charitable contributions in the past three years, which
total approximately $100,000.

“I wish that money did not play such a large role in politics, but
it does,” he said, adding he donates three times as much to charities
than political candidates.

Iannella said campaign and political contributions are not a
factor when he makes a decision. “The federal and state political
contributions, I don’t care. You’re a wealthy guy,” he said.

Iannella said what does mean something to him is that Berman took
time to educate himself on drug addiction after the first hearing.

Several council members said they were more impressed with Berman’s
performance at the second hearing.

Berman again defended his decision to represent a prisoner at a
Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, saying it was a constitutional
issue. No criminal charges were ever brought against his client,
but he remained detained.

“I wasn’t doing it to make a point publicly,” he said. “It was an
important constitutional issue there.”

Berman said he is passionate about the legal system. In 2004,
he applied for a position on the district court, but the Judicial
Nomination Commission did not advance his name.

The council will meet again next week. While the council has over
the years often voted on nominees a week after their hearing, the
governor decides when a vote is taken on any nominee.

In January, more than 100 attorneys wrote to the council urging
approval of Berman’s nomination. Among the lawyers was former Gov.

William Weld, former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, and Attorney
General candidate Warren Tolman.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN ASKS FOR ADVICE IN FINDING EFFECTIVE WAYS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND EU

YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Secretary of Armenia’s National Security
Council, Arthur Baghdasaryan, had a meeting today with members of the
EU Advisory Group and asked for assistance in finding effective ways
of cooperation between Armenia and EU having in mind Armenia imminent
accession to the Russia-led Customs Union.

“We need advice of economic experts in order to make our cooperation
with the Customs Union and the European Union as smooth as possible,”
Bagdasaryan said.

Baghdasaryan highlighted a set of priority programs, for which he would
like to get expert advice from the EU. They are the modernization
of the Armenian- Georgian border crossings and the introduction of
“one stop – one window” system. He said this program has already
received EU’s advice, but it is very extensive and requires a more
in-depth research and advice of European experts.

Baghdasaryan said Armenia needs European experts’ assistance also in
the justice system, particularly, in the introduction of the probation
service and the system of alternative penalties.

Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea, said
that a number of issues require extensive EU assistance, “however,
we would like to have additional discussion of the methodology of
this support.”

In a surprise move last September 3 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
signed a joint statement with Russia, confirming Armenia’s decision
to join the Customs Union and its readiness to participate in the
formation of the Russian sponsored Eurasian Union. Together with
other Eastern Partnership states, it was due to sign Association
as well as Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (AA/DCFTA)
with the EU last November in Vilnius.

President Sargsyan explained the decision to join the Customs Union
by pointing at Armenia’s membership in CSTO and saying that “it was a
rational decision based on Armenia’s national interests.” He further
added that “this decision does not preclude our dialogue with the
European structures.” -0-

– See more at:

REMOVAL OF POLITICAL TEAM’S INEFFICIENT LINK MAY IMPROVE ENTIRE POLITICAL SYSTEM – GURGEN ARSENYAN

19:10 * 25.02.14

With respect to the non-coalition forces’ demand for the Armenian
government’s resignation, Prosperous Armenia parliamentary group
member Gurgen Arsenyan told Tert.am he stated his opinion back in
the late 2008: the government must resign because the people are
discontented with it.

As to why the non-coalition forces do not demand the Armenian
authorities’ resignation, because it is the authorities that are
responsible, the MP said that the removal of the political team’s
inefficient link may improve the entire political system.

According to Arsenyan, if the Armenian president does not contribute to
the settlement of issues raised by political forces by civil society,
population’s problems, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
will face problems during the next elections.

“Amendments to Armenia’s legislation have changed our state
administration model. When we read the Constitution, we understand
who is responsible and for what. The government is, first of all,
responsible for the activities I am speaking of now in the context of
their negative consequences. Of course, the government is part of the
political team that is exercising ultimate power in the country. We
could easily demand resignations at a much higher level. However,
we believe there is always next time. The political team in power
in Armenia is composed of branches – the Executive, the President,
the parliament and so on. The removal of the political team’s
inefficient link may improve the entire political system. I say the
government’s activities are causing damage to society, to the country
and population. The people are discontented with the government.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

WHAT WILL ARMENIA DO AFTER CUSTOMS UNION?

Igor Muradyan, Political Analyst
Comments – Tuesday, 25 February 2014, 12:20

The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly warned Russia’s political
leadership about a possible global scandal over Moscow’s policy
on Ukraine.

It is possible that Moscow regrets its behavior regarding the
association between Ukraine and the European Union. The most
important thing has not been achieved: the Western community did
not accept the call and did not go for conciliation and negotiations
with Russia on Ukraine and Eastern Europe. These Europe – Ukraine –
Russia negotiations had to be a way of preventing and breaking the
geopolitical and geo-economic blockade of Russia and the isolation
of its ruling elite, that is the key to return Putin to the “club”
of world politicians.

Finally, after Viktor Yanukovych had escaped from Kiev, Moscow achieved
telephone calls between Vladimir Putin and leaders of the Western
States. However, it looked like a favor rather than substantive
negotiations. In Moscow they are starting to understand that the
current political leadership of Russia provincial petty functionaries
their finger on the nuclear button.

Regional expansion can only be imperial and requires prominent
politicians or rather geopoliticians who were many in the history
of Russia. The Russian elite are typically small-bore. The present
oligarchic group of nouveau riches and uncaught economic criminals is
clearly unable to resolve the problem of recreating the empire. To
do this, Moscow has neither genuine interest, nor ideology, nor
generation that is willing to make a sacrifice in the name of the
imperial idea. There are only some unscrupulous propagandists and
puppet governments in a few vassal countries who are waiting readily
to shed Moscow’s dictate.

One way or another, one needs to respond to the catastrophe that took
place in Ukraine. Moreover, not Ukraine but Russia’s foreign policy was
wrecked. The key results of this Moscow adventure were: acceleration
of overthrow of the regime that the Ukrainian people hated; Russia’s
“loss” of the entire Ukrainian nation which is now deeply insulted;
intensifying blockade of Russia in the west; imminent domestic crisis
in Russia; revision and rethinking of Russian foreign policies,
including the Black Sea and the Caucasus and Central Asian areas.

As to the “intensification of the blockade in the western direction”,
this is not as much related to pressure on behalf of the U.S. and
the UK as the elimination of commitments in relations with Germany,
as well as countries of continental Europe which will come together
around NATO and are ready to accept any positive defense initiative
of the alliance, primarily regarding European security issues.

First of all, it will have to get over the situation in Ukraine. The
Russian-speaking coven in Kharkov where only howl, groans and curses
were heard became a bad warning of the possibility of military
intervention by Russia. The leaders of this gathering in Kharkov
have already escaped to Russia and apparently participated in this
performance for the opportunity to continue their criminal activities
with Russian passports. Even this large-scale provocation proved
absolutely meaningless and did not have any significant influence
on Kiev. In fact, this is just another attempt of intimidation that
had nothing to do with Moscow’s true intentions. Russia does not need
the Russian-speaking provinces of Ukraine, it is simply ridiculous to
Moscow’s logic and interests. In Moscow, nobody is going to support
and subsidize manufacturing in these regions that do not belong to
it and which will cause big problems. Russian-speaking regions need
Moscow as part of Ukraine as a lever of pressure on it.

But what will happen to the left-bank Ukraine? If Moscow refrains
from provoking this issue, nothing special will happen. Left-bank
Ukraine will stay on the left bank of Dniepr, and the new ruling team
has sufficient pragmatism, these areas may be given more extended
administrative and economic rights. Actually, this was announced at
this gathering in Kharkov.

Just in one day the Russian propaganda changed its tone and began
calling “yesterday’s” extremists and fascists Ukrainian government. Is
it because of the release of Yulia Timoshenko from prison – Russia’s
last hope and perhaps only bid? Maybe but, most probably, Russia faced
a “great impasse” in its modern history, and will not only have to
save its face but also ensure its national security.

The Western community has practically recognized the new government
despite all doubts about its legitimacy, and a lot of states have
already expressed willingness to provide financial assistance and
political support to Ukraine.

Russia has enormous leverage over Ukraine and apparently relies on
the pragmatism of new Ukrainian leaders and, perhaps, controversies
among them to establish anew more or less predictable relations. Moscow
will support pragmatists of Ukraine, it is evident, but it will have
to admit that the future of Ukraine is close partnership with the
European Union and NATO.

Now Russia is concerned with how to prevent NATO troops and bases in
Ukraine and save the bases of the Black Sea fleet. Any government in
Ukraine will try to establish equal, good neighborly relations with
Russia. In the end, it is not about relations between states but
peoples. Ukraine will build relations with Russia as an independent
state, free to determine their own destiny.

This perspective that Russia cannot be reconciled with will certainly
affect its policy in the southern strategic direction and intentions
here must be verified and corrected, and not at all in a long-term
perspective. In the new situation it is necessary to escape this
framework of relations with Russia without excessive losses though
it is hardly possible.

But the situation is no better in other directions. As before, Russia
and CSTO are continuously involved in conflicts in Central Asia,
relations with China are growing uncertain, and it is envisaged
to block Russia in the Asia Pacific. In the Middle East, after the
solution of the situation in Syria, no “place of honor” will be found
for Russia. The emerging US-Iranian alliance will change the situation
in a vast area, including in the Black Sea-Caucasus-Caspian region.

The political leadership of Armenia is trying to understand what it
should do in case the Customs Union disappears. Some high-ranking
functionaries assert “look how deftly Armenia acted, leaving space
to maneuver, and if commitments to Russia remain in the past, the
way to the West will be open to us”.

Interestingly, with such genius we have appeared in such rotten swamp.

Armenia is still lucky, however, and despite belated evaluations of
American and British political scientists about the apathy of the U.S.

foreign policy and change of foreign policy priorities, the U.S. and
the UK faced the threat of filling the vacuum in Eastern Europe and
launched a new stage of integration of the region with NATO.

Armenia is definitely and straightforwardly called to launch a policy
of integration into NATO if the European Union failed to implement
the “Eastern Partnership” project. At the same time, NATO and the
European Union may start “competing” for accelerating integration of
the countries of Eastern Europe based on security conditions.

Who should make decisions in Armenia? Due to need for training on
decisions it would be logical to rename the Moscow Square in Yerevan to
“Kyiv Maidan Square.

– See more at:

LA POLICE AFFRONTE LES MANIFESTANTS CONTRE LA CENSURE D’INTERNET EN TURQUIE

TURQUIE

La police a utilise des gaz lacrymogènes et des canons a eau, place
Taksim a Istanbul, samedi, contre des manifestants qui protestent
contre une nouvelle loi renforcant le contrôle d’Internet en Turquie.

La manifestation contre la nouvelle loi renforcant le contrôle
d’Internet, samedi 22 fevrier a Istanbul, a donne lieu a des
affrontements entre la police et les protestataires. La police
antiemeutes a utilise, place Taksim, des gaz lacrymogènes et un canon
a eau contre les quelque 3 000 manifestants, afin de les forcer a
evacuer ce lieu recurrent de contestation en Turquie.

Les protestataires ont replique en tirant des feux d’artifice sur la
police, qui a arrete des dizaines d’individus selon les medias locaux.

“Gouvernement, demission !”, “touche pas a mon Internet !”, scandaient
les manifestants.

La loi controversee est entree en vigueur mercredi après sa
promulgation par le president Abdullah Gul, dont le veto avait pourtant
ete maintes fois sollicite. Elle donne a l’autorite gouvernementale
des telecommunications (TIB) le pouvoir de bloquer un site Internet,
si son contenu porte atteinte a la vie privee ou est juge offensant.

Scandale de corruption

Pour les detracteurs de la loi, il s’agit d’une tentative du
pouvoir d’etouffer le mecontentement de la population et d’eviter la
propagation par Internet de preuves sur le vaste scandale de corruption
qui secoue le gouvernement depuis decembre 2013.

Le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan a de nouveau dementi les
accusations de censure, devant une foule de plusieurs milliers de
partisans dans la ville de Sivas, plus tôt dans la journee. “Nous ne
sommes pas contre Internet, nous sommes contre les aspects immoraux
de l’Internet”, a-t-il plaide. “Nous avons simplement pris des mesures
pour eviter a nos enfants d’etre empoisonnes”, a-t-il martele.

mardi 25 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ACCOUNTS OPENED FOR SACKED YEREVAN METRO EMPLOYEES

20:14 * 24.02.14

Personal accounts have been opened for public financial aid to the
sacked Yerevan Metro employees, who took part in protests at funded
pensions.

On its Facebook page, the movement against funded pensions lists the
sacked employees and makes a call to support them.

One of the sacked employees, Gagik Galstyan, told Tert.am he has got
AMD 8,000 (about $20) during this day.

Armenian News – Tert.am

NATIONALISTS UNFURL BANNER HAILING ASSASSIN OF HRANT DINK AT KHOJALY MASSACRE COMMEMORATION

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Feb 24 2014

ISTANBUL

A group of ultranationalists unfurled a racist banner praising Ogun
Samast, the assassin of the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
as they marched to commemorate the Khojaly Massacre in Istanbul on Feb.

23, daily Agos has reported.

“Hooray for Ogun Samast! Down with Hrant Dink! Salute Azerbaijan and
keep on fighting,” read the banner.

Dink was the editor-in-chief of Agos, which has been the voice of the
small Armenian community in Istanbul for several decades and was shot
dead by Samast in front of his office in Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007.

The group reportedly identified themselves as “soldiers of Alparslan
Turkeþ,” who was a nationalist politician and founder of Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP). They began to march from Þiþli to Taksim square,
but were prevented by the police.

The group dispersed after making a press statement, saying people in
Turkey were ignorant of the massacre.

During the massacre, hundreds of ethnic Azerbaijanis – the majority of
whom were women and children – were killed during the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. According to international observers, the killing of 613
civilians was committed by ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly
with the help of Russian soldiers.

February/24/2014

WHERE THE “TIME MACHINE” IS TAKING ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 24 2014

24 February 2014 – 12:13pm

By David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

An aggravation of the socio-economic situation in Armenia, tougher
taxes, and plans to join the Moscow-led Customs Union (CU) have brought
up many questions. Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia and leader of
the Republican Party, attempted to answer them at the 10th congress
of the Yerkrapa Union.

Sadly, it must be stated that Sargsyan failed. The idea behind the hour
of talks was a cliche for people “put up with it and everything will
be fine.” However, some experts called Sargsyan’s speech a message for
his predecessor Robert Kocharyan who has been criticizing the economic
policy as a whole and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan specifically.

Concerning prospects of Armenia’s membership in the CU and further
involvement in Eurasian integration projects, the president outlined
new opportunities for the 200-million-consumer market of CU states.

Sargsyan believes that Armenia took the path of uncertainty, when the
country decided to make economic progress based on specific programs.

Sargsyan called the pension reform one of the main innovations
“focused on prosperity of the new generation.” Admitting that 80%
of Armenians (in reality 99% – author) want a compulsory system,
Sargsyan assured that the reform will make a strong bond between
the future of an Armenian and his/her homeland. “The government,
represented by the pensions system, is forming a sort of a time
machine that will give its hand to everyone in a few years,” said the
president. He criticized Gagik Tsarukyan’s oppositionist Prosperous
Armenia for being opposed to the strive for reforms.

Sargsyan bashed the idea of four opposition fractions to form a
commission that would study gas deals signed with Russia in 2013.

According to the documents, the gas price for Armenia will depend on
Russian domestic prices for gas. Moscow will no longer oblige Armenia
to pay the customs fee of 30% for gas. Sargsyan thinks that the 20% of
ArmRosgazprom shares sold according to the deals brought no dividends.

The president reminded about 80% of shares of the gas-distributing
company sold during the reign of Robert Kocharyan. Moreover, Sargsyan
showed sudden readiness to rescind deals with Gazprom if anyone gives
$100 million for the 20% share or finds a supplier of cheaper gas.

Grant Bagratyan, an MP of the Armenian National Congress and
ex-Prime Minister, asked for the authority to sell the 20% share of
ArmRosGazprom. The economist urged the president to get rid of the
PM’s mafia in the financial, banking and insurance sector. “You will
not understand anything anyway. So, in order to get rid of the mafia,
sign a resignation note and leave,” said the ex-PM.

Aram Sarkisyan, leader of the Republic Party, characterized the
president’s speech as confusing and fallacious. The politician said
that he did not believe a single word of the president “who came to
power by giving bribes and falsifying election results.”

POLITICAL EXPERTS: UKRAINE’S SAMPLE MAY BECOME CONTAGIOUS FOR THE REST CIS COUNTRIES

by Ani Mardirosian

ARMINFO
Monday, February 24, 16:25

Every post-Soviet country should follow the example of Ukraine,
political expert, Ruben Mehrabyan, said at today’s press-conference.

He thinks that the situation in Ukraine is a signal for other
post-Soviet countries to act against the criminal and oligarch regimes.

For his part, political expert, Edgar Vardanyan, said that despite
the information of the official mass media controlled by the Kremlin,
no acts of violence were demonstrated during the civil uprising in
Ukraine. The actions were of the peaceful nature and people started
demonstrating aggression only as a response at the actions of the
authorities, he said. “The people of Ukraine revolted against the
government which has limited their rights”, – he said and added that
they joined to say “yes” to the European integration.

Both political experts agreed that Ukraine’s sample may become
contagious for the rest CIS countries. “The Eurasian Union cannot
have a future after such a strong resistance from the side of Ukraine
which did not agree to join it”, – Edgar Vardanyan said.

YEREVAN TAXI DRIVERS HAVE NOWHERE TO PARK, PROTEST FINES

02.24.2014 19:44 epress.am

The Automobile Drivers Defense League is preparing to appeal several
acts of infringement caught on high-speed CCTV cameras that concern
incorrect taxi parking, said the defense league’s lawyer, Mkrtich
Muradyan, at a press conference today.

“The only reason is the lack of parking, which exists every day and
which gives cause for great concern. If the government is unable
to solve the problem of [lack of] parking over a certain period of
time, automobile drivers will stage ongoing protest rallies. The next
problem refers to the amount of fines [for violations] recorded by
CCTV cameras, which, in our opinion, are quite high. Fines of 30-50
thousand dram [about $72-$121 USD] do not reflect our reality and
they must be changed,” he said.

Another problem, he said, is the unnecessary, artificially created
delays in the courts related to appeals: “They say that supposedly
there are some technical shortcomings and the appeals are sent back,
but this red tape leads to the fact that those drivers who are unable
to defend their interests are forced to pay the administrative fines
in full.”

Press conference attendee, taxi driver Manvel Avetisyan stressed that
prior to the introduction of a new street parking system (demarcated
by red paint) there were at least one or two parking spaces for taxis,
but now there’s nowhere that taxis can stop to wait for customers
without having to pay parking fees.

“We need about 300 parking spots. Please don’t fine us, since the
government has not yet made a corresponding decision. We will appeal
all fines,” said Automobile Drivers Defense League President Tigran
Hovhannisyan.