Yerevan Drivers Strike Due to Increased Gas Prices

A number of minibus drivers in Yerevan have decided to strike, boycotting the increasing gas prices. They have gathered around the Malatia-Sebastia district’s church claiming that they were going to continue the protest until the issue of compensation for their losses has not been solved.

The strike participants demanded to meet with the PM Hovik Abrahamyan. While the PM did not arrive, a large number of minibuses parked in the area causing a traffic jam. The protesters said that gas prices are arbitrarily decided and have no connection to the dollar’s value, or any other circumstances, because gas prices increase in only Yerevan and not in the gas stations in the provinces. According to the protesters, gas prices have reached 230 drams.

The drivers stressed that they do not wish for transportation fares to increase, “we understand that the people are not to blame, they can’t give 150 drams in these difficult situations, but who is going to think about us?” said one of the drivers.

Epress.am spoke to Yerevan deputy mayor Kamo Areyan, who said that the city will not increase transportation fares due to the increase in gas prices. “Yes, we’ve heard that there is price increases, but the issue of increasing transport fares has not been discussed,” said Areyan.

The Yerevan municipality and the bus route owners decided to discuss the minibus driver strike. The mayor’s advisor Albert Gevorgyan who visited the protest site told the protest organizers about the discussions. Until then Gevorgyan asked them that at least a portion of drivers return to work so the public does not fall victim to their indefinite strike.

“We understand the issue, it's increased by 40 drams – from 190 to 230. Now we have to talk to your managers and find a solution. Your bosses have to solve this issue, I’ll tell you how to solve it,” said Gevorgyan.

“In this country no one should work because …” a driver was interrupted by Gevorgyan, who stated that “This country is our country.”

“Yes, the country is ours but it seems we aren’t this country’s residents,” countered another driver.