Authorities will retreat when they collect less money from bus payments than before — Samvel Hakobyan 

Since February 1, residents of the capital, joined by opposition members of the Yerevan City Council and members of the Hayastan faction of the National Assembly, have been boycotting the increase in public bus fares.

On January 27, Mayor Tigran Avinyan announced that he would not retreat and the cost of one ride on public transport would be 300 drams, and the next day, on January 28, he announced that one ride would cost 150 drams.

Member of the Mother Armenia faction Samvel Hakobyan told Alpha News about the results of the boycott, which has been going on for three days now.

“We believe the situation is positive. Unlike the city authorities, we communicate with citizens every day not in offices but on the streets, on buses, and at bus stops. Clearly, the absolute majority of people using Yerevan public transport are against the increase in fares. Yes, there are people who feel constrained because they do not want to use transport and not pay. And we explain that they should not be ashamed, because they are not committing any violations but are exercising their constitutional right, expressing their civic position with this boycott.

We are sure that the fare increase is not justified. The city authorities are wasting the budget and not using it properly. The budget does not serve Yerevan and its residents, but serves to create a comfortable life for the city authorities and the elite of this party,” Samvel Hakobyan said.

He also noted that many residents complain about Telcell ATMs.

“Telcell is a private company that city authorities advertise under unknown conditions. Even those who are ready to pay 150 drams complain about Telcell’s work,” he added.

Hakobyan advised citizens not to enter into conflicts with public transport drivers.

“I would like to note that we have good relations with public transport drivers; most of them behave normally. They understand that they have nothing to do with this fare increase, and our fight is not with them. We call on citizens not to succumb to manipulation and not to enter into conflicts, because this will directly harm our fight,” the MP said.

He stressed that their first success was Tigran Avinyan’s step back, and they will continue the fight until the bus fare is 100 drams again.