Epress.am News from Armenia
Gathered today in front of the Government of Armenia building in Yerevan’s Republic Square are vendors from numerous markets in Yerevan, in particular those from the Malatya market and Hrazdan stadium. They are protesting the doubling of the fees on imported products. According to the protestors, if before they had to pay $4 per 1kg of imported goods, now they have to pay $8.
Many don’t know how they will be able to pay the debts they have already incurred in procuring the goods and don’t understand why the state did not forewarn them.
Speaking to Epress.am, Mrs. Sirush, a vendor working at the Hrazdan market, said they cannot receive the goods. “How can we live? Those taxes, fees, loans, how are we to put them out?”
During the demonstration, a man came out of the government building who, despite numerous requests by Epress.am and demonstrators, did not identify himself, insisting that he identified himself as he was leaving the building.
During a long discussion, he was attempting to convince demonstrators to present their complaints in writing; however, protestors declined from doing so, demanding that their questions be responded to immediately.
“If you want a response at this time, the decision has been made, those are the rates, you must pay them. If you’re not satisfied, then you cease engaging in that type of activity,” said the government representative, which only seemed to infuriate protestors more.
Protestors began to shout “Prime Minister!” One women even proposed they “seize” the government building.
Note that earlier, joining the protestors were about 30 people who were shouting “Shame, shame!”
Three of the protestors were invited into the government building to raise their concerns. According to the police standing outside the building, the person inviting them was the prime minister.