Shaboyan doesn’t respond to Hello Yerevan’s inquiries in past 3 months

Ms. Anahit Bakhshian, the head of Hello Yerevan faction of the Yerevan Council of Elders, sent on July 25 a letter to the chairman of the State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition Artak Shaboyan in connection with the Yerevan Mayor Taron Margarian’s decision about changes in the contracts of the companies that provide passenger services.

According to the letter, in early July 2013 those companies almost simultaneously applied to the Yerevan municipality with the intention of raising public transport fares.

“It is obvious from the written applications of the companies that these companies – as they had come to an agreement among themselves - simultaneously applied to the municipality in July 2013 with the intention of raising public transport fares, submitting calculations for fare increase, which practically did not differ from each other. Members of our faction see intent in the simultaneous submission of applications and similar actions of 48 of the 49 companies,” reads the letter of Anahit Bakhshian to the commission chairman.

A. Bakhshian asked Artak Shaboyan to study the indicated ‘vicious’ phenomenon and punish those guilty and also to determine if free competition conditions are ensured among 49 companies.

Not receiving a reply to the first inquiry, the head of the opposition faction sent another application to the commission head on September 12, but she has not so far received any answer.