YEREVAN. – In an interview with Aravot daily, Armenian National Assembly Deputy Speaker Hermine Naghdalyan reflected on the recent developments that unrolled in connection with the decision to raise the public transport fares in capital city Yerevan.

“I believe the Mayor [Taron Margaryan], as always, remained close to both his mode and position. That is, as always, he was attentive toward his support base—the Yerevan residents, and their view.

“But, also, he considers it his duty to raise and resolve all matters—also including the transport issue—which have an important, a substantial significance for Yerevan residents and the city,” Aravot daily quotes Naghdalyan as saying.       

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the Yerevan Municipality recent decision to increase the public transport fares in the city had brought about outbursts, several groups were formed in the social networks, and the initiatives were staging protests and distributing pamphlets against this decision. In addition, the Free Car initiative was launched, along the lines of which Armenia’s numerous well-known personalities, MPs, and ordinary residents were providing—with their own vehicles—free transportation to the people.

And on July 25, Mayor Taron Margaryan suspended the decision on the fare hike; but the wave of the aforesaid movement is still alive. The activists demand that the persons, who made the decision on raising the transport fares, be brought to account, and those officials, who used violence against and cursed at the activists, be punished.