"LET THEM TURN HUMMERS INTO TAXIS"
A1+
[05:13 pm] 25 July, 2007
Under a recent law of the RA Government, starting from August 1 taxi
drivers will be fined in case they don’t make 200000-dram annual
payments, don’t have yellow numbers and meters. The car must be
produced not later than in 2000.
Today taxi-drivers held a protest action near the RA Government.
"The government adopted the law on purpose. They want us to work for
taxi services and become their slaves," said the driver Edik Poghosyan.
According to the taxi-drivers they earn 3000- 4000 drams a day. In
case they work for a service they will be deprived of their daily
bread. They state that services employ young people who are unaware
of the Yerevan streets, they don’t even know their names.
"If taxi-driving is so profitable let the authorities try it in their
"Hummers." But our authorities are only interested in preserving
their posts," said Seyran Khachatryan.
Today taxi-drivers were concerned over the fact that both private
drivers and service owners will be fined the same sum.
Taxi-driver Levon Vivalyan complained of the checkup as even after
the checkup drivers are forbidden to drive.
The demonstrators were received by Arshak Petrosyan, a RA Ministry of
Transportation and Communication representative. The latter stated
that the decision is already in force and the ministry is unable to
help them.
The taxi-drivers decided to gather July 26 to decide their further
steps.