Gagik Tsarukyan Foundation has nothing to do with politics
NA Deputy, Programs Coordinator for the Gagik Tsarukyan Benevolent Foundation Vahe Hovhannisyan's statement
"Since yesterday, the events developing around the "Free Routes" program and the news that is overtly guided make me touch upon the topic in detail.
The benevolent routes started functioning at the request of the population. We would be pleased to gear those funds toward other spheres, but the current social state of Armenia is making us take such steps. Several thousands of Armenian citizens benefit from the "Free Routes" program simply because they need it today.
We assure that whenever the residents of Abovyan and the nearby areas say they no longer need free buses and that their social conditions have improved, we will immediately remove the route.
Yesterday everyone was speculating the issue relating to the right of drivers on a workers' strike. Those drivers are our citizens, and we are also concerned about their issues. We also understand that they are obliged to participate in the so-called protest and may have problems with the owners of the routes in case of disobedience. I must say that several transport companies expressed willingness to support the drivers by hiring them.
Yesterday there were rumors that some taxi drivers were also preparing to declare a workers' strike against the "Free Routes" program. This is absurd in that those taking taxis and the free buses represent different layers of society.
This and some other details go to show that the action "against benevolence" has been initially planned and provoked by other forces. I would like to emphasize once again that thousands of Armenian citizens take the benevolent buses and any step against the Tsarukyan Benevolent Foundation directly hurts our citizens. All day yesterday deputies of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) tried to calm people down since the tension was growing by the hour. People wanted to hold protests and express their protest through provocation against the benevolent foundation.
Let us state that organizing a workers' strike and a news campaign against benevolence is strange even for Armenia. This is a very dangerous precedent, and I advise avoiding such steps that will lead to more tension in the society.
Summing up, I must say that the Gagik Tsarukyan Benevolent Foundation has nothing to do with politics. Its sole purpose is to help different layers of society in difficult conditions. The Foundation will continue its activities in all directions, and the amount of work will increase starting in September.
