RURAL RESIDENTS ARE BANNED ENTRY TO YEREVAN
Support A1+!Residents of Kotayk Marz couldn’t get to Yerevan today as all the roads were blocked by policemen. They are checking every bus, minibus and car. Yesterday, drivers of minibuses were strictly ordered to stay indoors. The bus-stops of Abovian town have been overcrowded since early morning.
People voiced complaint as they had been waiting for hours to get to the capital. Some hurried to work others to studies.
“This is really ridiculous, real nonsense. I shall not be paid if I am late for work. Who is to compensate for the losses,” said architect Misak.
Gayane was hurrying to an exam. “I am not interested either in the authorities or in the opposition. I haven’t slept for a week studying day and night for the exam. Today I came to the bus-stop and found no means of transport there. Who is to pass my exam?”
People were thinking of a way to get to the destination. Some emptied their pockets and called a taxi, others became discouraged and went home. “The authorities say they care for our security. But I doubt their words. I think they are rather concerned about today’s large-scale rally than about our security. The rally is due at 6:00 p.m. while they have blocked streets since 7:0 a.m.”
“The authorities seem to be at a loss as they have been taking preventive measures eight hours ahead of the rally. I wonder how scared they are!” said 49-year-old Vardan.
“They cannot hold power by force. Let them grant people freedom as only in that way they will gain public respect and confidence,” said Seda.
A1+ tried to find out from a local dispatcher the reasons for the mess. “Don’t you know the reasons? Everything is quite obvious. The main reason is today’s rally. People chained me with their questions. I was hardly able run away. Our country will never better. They force people to run to extremes, said dispatcher Sirak.”
“The order was given from the higher echelons. We cannot take even two passengers to Yerevan no matter how sick they are. But there are people really need medical treatment. I feel pity for them but I cannot help them as I have definite orders,” a driver of an Abovian-Yerevan minibus said to A1+,
The same is true with other settlements of the marz - Byureghavan, Nor Hachen, Zovuni, etc. Resident of Nor Hachen, 23-year-old David, got to Yerevan by taxi. He left home at 8 in the morning and reached Yerevan at 12.30.
“We were stopped on the way to Yerevan and sent back. We wanted to change the route and come to Yerevan via Ashtarak but they again stopped us. Finally, I got to Yerevan via Eghvard. There were about 300 people standing at bus-stops in Nor Hachen,” he said.
Ro remind, the Popular Movement holds a rally near the Matenadaran at 6.00 on June 20.
