Citizen is Not Material for Fines, Regardless of Who is in Power: Tehmine Vardanyan

The member of the Yerevan City Council's "Light" alliance, Tehmine Vardanyan, wrote on her Facebook page:

“‘The citizen is no longer material for fines’ – Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, not long ago. Mr. Pashinyan, I am amazed every time that I am still amazed. How much has changed in your life and, most importantly, in your views, for which I genuinely feel sorrow. My former belief and passion are crumbling within me.

Yes, the citizen is not material for fines, regardless of who is in power. Forgive me, but unlike you, my viewpoints have not changed.

A draft has been presented in the National Assembly to raise fines from 10,000 drams to 20,000-50,000 drams. Every day, I try to reason what else the authorities can do to drive the people away hour by hour and tighten the noose that is already becoming impossible to tighten. Well, at least do you understand that people don’t even have money for bread, or have you completely detached from reality, as we all used to say about the activities of past authorities, and have lost control of the situation? If I am mistaken and you are in control, that is even worse.

By the way, the police say that there is a 'plan' to fine 20 citizens daily because they are given 20 tickets.

P.S. I ask my fellow MPs and not only them to vote against this disastrous project. Do not treat the citizen in such a manner. Just do not do it.

I hope the next fine won’t be for the color of a mask, for example.”