25/02/2015 22:46
Pashinyan: Cameras installed to watch people and cover up crimes
During the government hour in the Armenian parliament today, the deputy of Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction Nikol Pashinyan addressed the problem of road safety cameras and speed equipment.
In his words, amid the general decline and regression, there is a sphere where the Armenian government achieved 18% growth – collection of fines for speeding, based on data of road cameras.
“8 billion 950 million drams was collected in 2013, and 10 billion was collected in 2014. What do we have as a result? In the past, an increase in the number of cameras and speed measuring equipment was conditioned by the goal of increasing citizens’ safety, what is the reason now?” he asked.
According to Pashinyan, those arguments are not true as the number of road accidents grew by 30%. “The money that Armenian citizens used to spend on their families is now paid to the Police that share 50% of this sum with Security Dream Company responsible for cameras,” the deputy noted.
In his words, it is noteworthy that the cameras fail to ‘notice’ masked people who kidnap and beat up others in broad daylight.
“Official statistics show that the number of gravest crimes increased as well. Gang members wearing masks are at work in the city. At least three such attacks were reported last year. How did they manage to avoid security cameras? Could you explain?” Pashinyan said.
In response, Justice Minister Hovhannes Manukyan said: “Cameras were installed in some places, thanks to which violations of the traffic rules declined by 85-90%, the number of victims of road accidents also declined – by 29%. The analysis of those figures shows the opposite”.
“I share your concern as we are speaking about victims by means of figures and percentages, which gives reason for concern. The government is trying to implement a comprehensive action program, but I agree with you that the problem cannot be solved only through speed measuring devices,” H. Manukyan said.
The deputy said in response that the second part of his question remained unanswered. “I asked about the gangs of masked persons who kidnap people. One can assume that the cameras were installed to watch people and cover up crimes,” N. Pashinyan said.