Armenia: 50 persons demand to dismiss two Yerevan transport officials

Today, at the building of Yerevan Mayoralty, 50 persons continued their endless sit-in strike with a demand to cancel the decision of the Mayoralty to raise public transport fares and dismiss Genrik Navasardyan, the head of the transportation department of the Mayoralty, and Misak Ambartsumyan, the director of the LLC "Yerevantrans".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 26 about 30 activists of the initiative group "We won't pay 150 drams!" declared an indefinite sit-down strike in front of the Mayoralty demanding resignation of Navasardyan and Ambartsumyan.

According to one of the protesters named Arthur, the picketers were repeatedly approached by people who urged them to stop their "pointless protest." The activists suppose that these were some Mayoralty officials.

Let us note that this night was spent by the protesters and policemen who cordon them off in the absence of electricity. All the area adjacent to the building of the Mayoralty was disconnected from power supply.

Let us remind you that the new public transport tariffs – raising the cost of a bus and fixed-route travel in Yerevan from 100 (7.9 Russian roubles) up to 150 drams (11.8 roubles) – were enforced on 20 July. The sharp increase of fares met the resistance of local residents who launched daily protests demanding the return the former fares. On July 25, the Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan announced suspension of the decision to increase the fares.