Some Guy Looks Out His Office Window, Determines Customs Rate: Gyumri Drivers Protest

Gyumri drivers’ protest today ended outside the Shirak regional police division.

Four of the drivers who were asked to come to the police division and raise their concerns by calling Yerevan left the building at around 3:30 pm local time. Recall, since Saturday, drivers have been protesting the increased customs tariffs on importing vehicles from Georgia to Armenia.

Today, protestors had gone so far as to block the Yerevan-Gyumri route, which resulted in long waits and traffic jams. Then they had gathered in Gyumri’s main square.

The drivers had described how they called Yerevan (without naming who they spoke to) and presented their demands. Police in the division advised them to go to the Bavra customs point and submit a complaint-appeal, which will then be sent to the Armenian capital.

Drivers said if a solution is not provided, they will meet again on Feb. 9 at 10 am to protest. As for where this protest will take place, they did not say.

From the police division, the protestors got in their cards and went to Asparez Journalists’ Club to write a complaint-letter there.

Speaking to Epress.am, the drivers said the new customs rates depend on the state of one’s car and the size of its engine, as well as on the mood of the customs officer.

“For example, for a $4,000 Opel, they want a customs duty of $3,300; someone was bringing a $10,000 jeep and they wanted a customs tariff of $9,000. Someone looks out from his office window, determines the size and decides whatever price he wants. In a word, it’s based on a whim,” said a driver named Seyran.

Seyran noted that they called Georgian authorities and found out the customs rate is determined by the engine size.