On July 20, the price for fixed route traffic will increase: the fare for fixed route minibuses will be AMD 150, trolley buses AMD 100. Aravot.am, in the talk with the President of the Association of Consumers Armen Poghosyan, inquired whether this chain of rises in prices can lead to a social explosion. He answered,- “Economic issues grow into social, social into political. I do not see a risk of social explosion, and I would like this kind of phenomena take place.” Mr. Poghosyan considers necessary that there will be a civic activism in the issue of rise in transport, but at the same time he notes that they are not influential. He noted,- “If the same thing happened in Paris, or RF, there would be larger groups of people on the streets.”
In response to the observation that months ago there were talks about safe Armenia, while now people are facing such problems, maybe it resulted in disappointment, so answered Mr. Poghosyan,- “Unfortunately, the debate of professionals, government and the state does not take place neither in the form, nor by the content. It is also a stimulus for people to express their discontent.” We were interested to know as to whose the largest share of the blame is in the issue of transport fare increase, A. Pogosyan answered,- “We have an electoral power, the council, which has more power than the mayor. But neither the mayor, nor the council have this compassionate approach and adequate level of competency. There is an
international grand master in the council, whose potential I trust in, the others do not inspire confidence.” To our question whether he trusts in Taron Margaryan, A. Pogosyan answered,- “I do not trust, because I see the work … and not only this city mayor, but also the previous ones. I do not see rational development plan and implementation in the transport sector.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
