Minibus drivers hold strike in Yerevan

Today, in the southwest part of Yerevan, a strike of minibus drivers was held. Several dozens of drivers protested against increase of liquefied gas prices, used by their minibuses. According to their story, this price rise was not accompanied by transportation tariff growth.

"We can't cope with the current price framework. Apart from owners of the companies serving transport routes establishing high traffic plans, we also have to buy expensive gas. After the price rise, we have to pay 2000 drams more at each refuelling than before, while the transport tariffs remained the same. It makes our work senseless," said one of the drivers.

The protest action lasted for a couple of hours only and was dispersed by employees of the GAI (Road Police). The drivers promised to continue their protest actions. Earlier, for two days drivers of the minibuses of route No. 76 were on strike.

From April 1, Armenia pays more for Russia gas: 154 US dollars per 1000 cubic meters instead of 110 before. The gas traded at gas refuelling stations went up by 40 percent.

Earlier, Gurgen Sarkisyan, Minister of Transport and Communication, said, when making comments on possible impact of gas price growth on transport tariffs, that should owners of transport companies present justified arguments in favour of increasing transport tariffs, they would be accepted.

According to his story, until now, neither the owners of transport routes of Yerevan, nor the owners of interregional routes have addressed the Ministry on tariff revision. Today, Yerevan operates 118 routes of minibuses and 29 routes of buses, which belong to 66 companies.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 7, at the building of the government of Armenia, in the Republic Square, a protest action was held by several hundreds private taxi drivers, who demanded to cancel the new order of licensing. They promised to come to the building of the government again.

However, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Transport and Communication, today about 50 private taxi drivers applied to the Ministry for registration and licensing. 100 more drivers requested a package of documents from the Ministry for acquaintance with the procedure of licensing. According to the Ministry, 6500 taxis already work under the law, and about the same number have not yet been licensed.

Let us note here that last December amendments to the law "On Licensing Vehicles in Armenia" were enacted. According to the amendments, all the taxi services and individuals engaged in private transportation shall pass the procedure of registration, get licensed and receive yellow license plates for their cars. One of the major preconditions for licensing is the age of cars, which should not exceed 10 years.