The boycott against public transportation fare increases continues in Yerevan. Members of the Mother Armenia city council group are boarding buses and urging passengers to pay only 100 drams instead of the set fare of 150 drams before exiting the vehicle.
"I won't pay more than 100 drams. There are seven of us in my family using public transport. I'll sit and give 100 drams—I can't not pay; it's shameful—but I won't give more. If needed, I'll walk," said one protester, as reported by Panorama.am .
During a city council meeting, Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan declared that there is no possibility of returning to the 100-dram fare system under the new unified ticketing model, Sputnik Armenia reports.
"For nearly 30 years, we operated a 100-dram fare system, and we all saw the quality of transport it provided. To ensure the continuous development of Yerevan’s public transport, we need new resources and new payment models, which have now been introduced. Residents of Yerevan understand this and largely support it," he stated.
Avinyan labeled the opposition’s actions as a "political show" and added that these groups have specific objectives, as reported by Auroranews.am .
"In my assessment, the main issue is not the fare increase itself, but an attempt to collapse the entire system, which completely failed," he said.
He also expressed gratitude to public transport drivers for their patience.
"These political performances must come to an end," Avinyan stated. "But we must handle this calmly and respectfully, explaining and ensuring that our opponents understand."
Deputy Mayor Suren Grigoryan noted that following the introduction of the new ticketing system, complaints have emerged regarding double card charges, CivilNet reports.
According to him, such cases occur when a card payment is made while the account lacks sufficient funds, leading to a delayed charge once the account is topped up.
Yerevan’s city council approved the new transport fare, setting the price at 150 drams per ride starting February 1. Additionally, various ticket packages will be introduced as part of the unified ticketing system.
