Epress.am News from Armenia
A few-kilometers-long traffic jam on the Yerevan to Gyumri route has ensued today as a result of protesting Gyumri drivers blocking the road.
Road police have urged protestors to open the road and voice their complaints at Gyumri’s republic square or another venue.
Protestor Karen Poghosyan told Epress.am that at this time traffic is paralyzed and drivers have decided to stage demonstrations in different areas of Gyumri until the proper authorities meet with them and give a positive response to their concerns. Poghosyan also said Armenians in the Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti have blocked the road from Bavra, on the Armenian side, to Georgia. The decision to increase customs tariffs has also affected them as many have residences in Armenia and travel back and forth.
Recall, Armenian drivers are complaining of the high customs duties for importing cars from Georgia to Armenia. Furthermore, they are displeased with the fact that vehicles with Georgian plates can stay in Armenia for only 30 days at a time, after which drivers have to drive to the Georgia-Armenia border to get a stamp to extend the vehicle’s stay for another 30 days.