Your trusted source

A group of traders selling clothing in retail markets in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, are rallying outside the government building to protest against the increased customs clearance fees.

The protesters demand the authorities to review the imports tariffs, which have increased to $4-5 from the previous $3, claiming the small and medium-sized businesses are facing serious problems due to the move. 

One of the protesters stressed traders manage to sell only half of their imported goods, while the other half remains unsold, with the majority of people having loans to pay off. “After all, people are in charge of the power. People should decide whether to increase or reduce the fees,” he stressed.

Chairman of the Solidarity NGO Armen Nersissyan, who joined today the protesting traders, said on Sunday he held a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Rafik Mashadyan to discuss the issue.

“We have decided to stand still here to meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. We want to have the prices cut down; people have ended up in a complex situation,” he said, reflecting on a recent decision of Minister of Education and Science Arayik Harutyunyan allowing schoolstudents to wear free clothing instead of the former black and white uniforms, due to which traders are unable to sell them.