“Increasing the gas prices was a purely political decision,” Armen Martirosyan, a deputy leader of the Heritage Party, described the increase in gas prices during a conversation with www.aravot.am. According to him, “The whole process was political, because talk about a rise in gas prices, which the government constantly denied, has been there for almost one year. However, since there was to be a political process during this past one year, they continuously delayed it. Before that, increases would take place in April, statements, applications etc. This time they delayed till May when the city council election would also pass, so that people could take election bribes normally and would not know that such inflation awaited them two days later that they should have been given 10 thousand dollars, so that they could survive these upcoming months, and not 10 thousand drams. That decision surely was a political one, because they didn’t state about that till the electoral process was over. Not only did they state about the increase in gas prices, but the PAP leader also stated about their not being opposition after the electoral process, which was basically expectable. Thanks to some of our opposition colleagues, the government has carried out its plan brilliantly, the government was reproduced; they distracted the opposition electorate in every direction possible, except for the presidential election. As a result, we have a situation when there will be no elections in 4 years, and the government is free to do what it has to do.” Armen Martirosyan stated that the transport fares will start to increase; everything will become 50% more expensive, services and the goods that are related to gas. “Unfortunately, there is a situation, in which the government is left with no other choice than to encourage emigration, in order that they can ensure additional dollars for the importers of their monopolistic economy and keep as small a mass of protesters in the Republic of Armenia as possible.” We asked Mr. Martirosyan to count how much his family used to pay for gas in the winter months and how much would have to pay in the upcoming winter, if the Public Services Regulatory Commission confirmed that new gas price. Mr. Martirosyan said that 16th Quarter, where he lived, was not supplied with gas. “They broke the windows of corridors in the winter as if to install gas supply, but I don’t think that the citizen will be able to pay that price and wish to have gas. We are left with no other choice than to say: ‘Long live the secure Armenia that, in Vardan Bostanjyan’s words, should return to manure.’ They don’t allow cutting trees, and those villagers who live near forests cannot cut trees. Only few people can do that. Added to that, the prices are so high that citizens are left with no other choice than to burn manure. This is the very secure Armenia they are talking about.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
