Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan today forwarded a three question inquiry to Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan regarding the recent hike in transit fares.

Andreasyan asks Margaryan if the hikes were possible solely based on the decision of the mayor and whether or not he had signed such a decision.

The Human Rights Defender then asks that if no such decision has been signed by the mayor, will the municipality penalize those operators who nevertheless raised their fares.

Finally, Andreasyan then asks whether or not a new round of tenders should have been announced if in fact bus and minivan operators had applied for the price hikes.

Andreasyan concludes by stating that any decision to hike transit fares is impermissible without appropriate public hearings and that such an increase is even more condemnable when it takes place in gross violation of the law.