Cultural Figures' Statement on Public Transport Fare Increase

Samvel Haroyan, secretary of the "Mother Armenia" faction of the Yerevan City Council, has posted a statement by cultural figures opposing the fare increases on his Facebook page:

“Dear compatriots, due to the decisions made by the Armenian authorities, serious social problems have arisen for the citizens of Armenia. Property taxes have sharply increased, the turnover tax has doubled, public transport fares in Yerevan are rising by up to 300 drams, waste collection fees in the capital have increased despite a court ruling, and the prices of parking in red-lined areas remain high. People are being forced to declare their income, which adds an additional financial burden and is unacceptable. When we also consider that essential goods are expensive and inaccessible to many citizens of Armenia, the picture becomes complete.

We, the undersigned, call for a unified struggle against these anti-social decisions. In particular, we are referring to the city transport. As of February 1, we must boycott the decision to increase public transport fares by not purchasing expensive packages and not paying the fare until the decision for the increase is reconsidered.”

Signatories include:

1. Martik Vardazaryan - composer, People's Artist of Armenia, Honorary Citizen of Yerevan
2. Yervand Yerznkyan - composer, People's Artist of Armenia, Honorary Citizen of Yerevan
3. Samvel Galstyan - singer, songwriter, professor at the conservatory
4. Arthur Sahakyan - director, artistic director of the "Goy" theater
5. Sirvard Hambaryan - education sector expert
6. Karo Vardanyan - literary scholar, Honored Cultural Worker
7. Samvel Tadevosyan - film director, member of the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia
8. Arsen Hambaryan - singer, songwriter, writer
9. Anna Mayilyan - singer, Honored Artist of Armenia
10. Zhiryayr Dadasyan - director, Honored Cultural Worker
11. Aram Satyan - composer, Honored Cultural Worker, President of the Union of Composers of Armenia
12. Nersik Ispriyan - singer, Honored Artist of Armenia
13. Murad Mshetsi - songwriter, singer, poet
14. David Mshetsi - poet
15. Nara Sargsyan - PhD in Philology
16. Sargis Baghdasaryan - singer, Honored Artist of Armenia
17. Gagik Sargsyan - cultural figure
18. Razmik Martirosyan - sociologist, public figure
19. Vardan Tadevosyan - choreographer
20. Martin Aharonyan - composer, musician, artist, Honored Cultural Worker
21. Levon Tevanyan - musician, Honored Artist of Armenia
22. Arthur Shahnazaryan - composer, Komitas specialist
23. Armen Musayelyan - economist, public figure
24. Yervand Torosyan - singer, Honored Cultural Worker
25. Karen Aristakesyan - cultural figure
26. Hratchik Safaryan - singer
27. Anna Avetisyan - singer
28. Susan Melikyan - cultural scholar
29. Atom Mkrtchyan - Dean of Graduate Studies at the National Academy of Sciences
30. Astghik Avetisyan - Associate Professor at YSU
31. Vahan Vardanyan - public figure
32. Ashkhunj Poghosyan - ethnographer, cultural scholar, candidate of ethnographic sciences
33. Manuk Harutyunyan - musician, winner of international competitions
34. Vrej Arakelyan - art figure
35. Surik Grigoryan - poet, lawyer
36. Garnik Seyranyan - director, producer
37. Vahe Hayrapetyan - composer, member of the Union of Composers and Dramatic Theater Workers of Armenia
38. Ruben Hovhannisyan - director of mass events
39. Sasoun Paskevichyan - songwriter, poet, People's Artist of Armenia
40. Lusine Haroyan - sociologist, public figure, tourism sector expert
41. Levon Galstyan - film dramatist
42. Spartak Gharabaghchyan - prose writer
43. Ara Nakhshkaryan - poet
44. Surik Vardumyan - lecturer, management expert
45. Zara Daniel - composer
46. Vahan Yeghiazaryan - public and cultural figure
47. Arsen Ghazaryan - director, associate professor at the conservatory
48. David Karapetyan - cultural figure
49. Gagik Karapetyan - ballet master, Honored Cultural Worker
50. Gayané Harutyunyan - cultural figure
51. Ashot Ohanyan - choreographer
52. Gohar Khachatryan - folk singer
53. Tigran Arzumanyan - sculptor, Honored Artist of Armenia
54. Aghasi Tadevosyan - cultural scholar, actor
55. Hakob Babayan - duduk player
56. Kristine Martirosyan - sociologist
57. Andranik Hakobyan - writer, publicist
58. Armine Sargsyan - historian, PhD in historical sciences
59. Aram Gagik Sargsyan - journalist
60. Anahit Stepanyan - cultural scholar
61. Aramo (Aram Gevorgyan) - singer, Honored Artist of Armenia
62. Emma Petrosyan - singer, songwriter, Honored Artist of Armenia, associate professor at the State Conservatory
63. Artem Khachaturov - tar player, composer, Honored Artist of Armenia
64. Arsine Navasyan - actress, director
65. None Badalyan - musician, lecturer at the State Conservatory, professor
66. Siranush Yeghiazaryan - singer, journalist
67. Samvel Gasparyan - choreographer, Honored Cultural Worker
68. Gagik Gyanjumi - public figure
69. Yeghishe Petrosyan - musician, songwriter
70. Vahagn Melikyan - public figure
71. Hasmik Leyloyan - qanun player, professor, People's Artist of Armenia
72. Roland Sharoyan - writer, publicist, journalist, professor
73. Hrach Grigoryan - associate professor at the State Conservatory
74. Artashes Shahbazyan - writer, editor, director
75. Ashot Jivanyan - musician, educator
76. Vera Zakaryan - educator
77. Firdus Zakaryan - writer, historian
78. Meruzhan Mikhailyan - public figure
79. Edmond Makaryan - composer
80. Tadevos Tonoyan - poet, candidate of philological sciences, associate professor
81. Armen Aslanyan - baker, international academic of bread science
82. Hrant Muradyan - singer, songwriter
83. Arsen Grigoryan - duduk player
84. Anahit Sahakyan - folk singer, holder of the "Movses Khorenatsi" medal
85. Habebtnak Marutyun - choreographer
86. Garuš Hovsepyan - musician, arranger
87. Gagik Avetisyan - artistic director of the "Gorani" song-and-dance ensemble
88. Arshak Zakaryan - film director
89. Tigran Chobanyan - architect, member of the Armenian Architects' Union
90. Vazgen Minasyan - musician, associate professor, holder of the "Grigor Narekatsi" medal
91. Susan Nersisyan - Director of the "Hayheghank" NGO
92. Eduard Shahnazaryan - actor, screenwriter, director
93. Tigran Nalchajyan - actor, director
94. Armine Grigoryan - singer
95. Arevik Orbelyan - director, actress
96. Elizavet Babayan - producer, musician
97. Garik Saribekyan - pianist, composer, Honorary Cultural Worker of Yerevan
98. Amatuni Virabyans - historian, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor
99. Georg Tadevosyan - cultural scholar
100. Karen Gevorgyan - ballet master, professor, Honored Cultural Worker
101. Samvel Haroyan - cultural figure, editor, holder of the "Komitas Vardapet" medal

Note: The statement is open, and those interested can join...