Epress.am News from Armenia
Drivers of cars with Georgian plates and their supporters are currently rallying in Gyumri’s Theater Square. As reported earlier, the group decided to rally after police completely blocked Sayat-Nova St. in Gyumri and prohibited them from driving to Yerevan to stage a protest outside the government building against the dissolution of a legal loophole that allowed them to pay significantly lower import taxes on vehicles imported from Georgia.
Gyumri-based Asparez Journalists’ Club Chair Levon Barseghyan, speaking to Epress.am, said making speeches at the rally today will be Heritage Party MPs Zaruhi Postanjyan and Stepan Safaryan, as well as he and a few of the drivers. According to Barseghyan, protestors’ first demand is for police to unblock the roads.
“About 400 people are participating in the rally, who have said they won’t leave till the roads are opened. Those gathered are also discontent about APPA [the mandatory vehicle insurance plan introduced by the state and put into force early this year] and the price increases,” he said.
Barseghyan also noted that not only Sayat Nova St., but also all streets leading to it have been closed, resulting in traffic coming to a standstill.
Photo: GALA TV