Opposition calls for transport boycott

ArmInfo. The Mother Armenia faction in the Yerevan Council of Elders has once again appealed to the residents of the capital with a call to boycott the payment of 150 drams for travel on public transport in the city.

On February 4, in a city bus, faction member Samvel Hakobyan noted  that if the boycott continues, the Yerevan authorities will be forced  to return to the previous tariff of 100 drams. "We assure you that  the increase in the cost of services in the transport sector has no  legal basis. All the calculations presented by the Yerevan  authorities are fabricated. Their only goal is to fill the city  budget in order to improve their personal lives, to buy a plane  ticket to the USA for $20 thousand," the oppositionist said,  addressing the passengers of the bus.

He added that there is not a single city in the region where public  transport fares would be 300 drams, which the authorities initially  insisted on. However, as Hakobyan emphasized, under public pressure,  this figure was reduced to 150 drams.

"This is already the result of a united struggle, but this is not  enough, we must continue the struggle to bring the fare to 100 drams.  You form the city budget, do not allow yourself to be manipulated,  improving the work of transport is not your problem, but the direct  responsibility of the city authorities, who want to shift the burden  onto you," the oppositionist said.

He also emphasized that the price for public transport is formed from  several components. In this case, it is necessary to keep in mind the  length of the roads and the average mileage per passenger. An  elementary calculation shows that 100 drams for public transport is  enough to solve this problem.

New fares for public transport came into force in Yerevan on February  1, which is 150 drams per trip instead of the previously effective  price of 100 drams. Many city residents, especially those of  retirement age, heard the opposition's call to boycott this decision  of the mayor's office.