Video: It Was Right to Remove Marutyan From Both the Mayor's Office and the Council, Avinyan

When discussing red lines, we must always remember that we have the choice to develop transportation and to allow more private vehicles in the city, complicating the existing road issues. This was stated today, February 7, during a conversation with reporters at the Yerevan City Hall by Mayor Tigran Avinyan.

"The decisions we make are aimed at ensuring that public transportation receives benefits, has dedicated lanes, and a unified ticketing system. When they say we are raising prices, everyone should understand for themselves—when they buy a weekly, monthly, or yearly ticket and compare it with their current travel expenses—whether it is becoming more expensive or cheaper for them. I am confident that there will be cases where it will become cheaper for some people.

Besides this decision, we are also discussing a significant package of concessions to understand which groups need benefits," he said.

In response to the claim that former mayor Haik Marutyan insists all these changes can be implemented without raising fares and that the state can subsidize transportation, Avinyan stated: "All this gives me confidence that all decisions regarding Haik Marutyan—both his removal from the mayor's office and his deprivation of the council mandate—were definitely correct. That person does not understand urban economics. There is absolutely no desire for revenge. The person does not understand that, after all, the city hall spends these subsidies from the taxes of citizens. One way or another, if transportation costs X amount, someone has to pay for it. This is either the residents of Yerevan or, if the government subsidizes, then the citizens of the Republic of Armenia. If the suggestion is that the state only subsidizes Yerevan's transportation, it will mean that a person living in Syunik has to subsidize Yerevan's transportation. The Yerevan budget is formed from the taxes and dues paid by Yerevan's residents. Now, roughly speaking, will you take it out of this pocket, give it as a tax, and the city hall will subsidize, or will you service your own transportation? It is a matter of method," Avinyan said.