Armenian Transport Minister refuses to revoke draft ban on right-hand drive

On December 22, Vahan Martirosyan, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies of Armenia, met a group of activists of the "Right-Hand Drive" initiative group. The activists suggested him to revoke the draft decision on the ban of right-hand drive cars and set up a commission to study all the problems of driving right-hand cars in Armenia, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Armenian Ministry of Transport put forward an initiative to temporarily restrict import and ban the exploitation of right-hand-drive cars. Users of social networks and members of NGOs that protect the rights of motorists criticized the initiative. On December 22, a motor rally with the demand to withdraw the bill was held in Yerevan.

At the meeting with Vahan Martirosyan activists pointed out, inter alia, to the provision on the ban from April 1, 2018, to reregister the right-handed cars imported earlier – they believe that such a ban is unconstitutional.

"This provision is contrary to the right to property, enshrined in the Constitution. In fact, we'll not be able to conduct sale-purchase transactions. We are deprived of the right to fully manage our property, "said Vahan Ovsepyan, a member of the "Right-Hand Drive" initiative group.

The Minister said that the government would not revoke the above bill, but is ready to listen to motorists' offers. He called on the members of the "Right-Hand Drive" initiative not to hold protests.

The parties agreed to meet on December 26 and discuss the activists' proposals.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.