12 August 2013, 20:09
Protesters against higher tuition fees demand to meet Armenia's Premier
This morning, about 70 students gathered at the building of the Armenian Government to demand to abolish the authorities' decision to increase tuition fees in universities.
The protesters chanted "Freedom!" and "Prime Minister!" demanding to meet the Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan.
After a while, Alexander Kazaryan, the head of the division of citizens' applications and complaints of the government went down to the rally. He told the protesters that he had come to talk to them on behalf of the Premier. However, the students said that they wanted to meet Tigran Sarkisyan and tell him about their rights, protected by the Constitution of Armenia.
In particular, as they said, Article 30 of the Constitution of Armenia states that citizens have the right to free education, while at some departments, including the Department of Law of the Yerevan State University, there are no free-of-charge places at all.
Thus, the meeting of the protesters with the state official was fruitless. The young people state their commitment to continue struggling for abolition of the decision to raise tuition fees.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 9 about 40-50 people came to the building of the Armenian government to hold a similar action; they were students and activists of the new movement against the government's decision to raise tuition fees in universities that was self-organized on the Facebook.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan Source: CK correspondent
