Strike continues
"Hrazdan" fair was closed again today. Traders were out on a strike for the second day in a row demanding from the government to slash their rents by 50%. The traders currently pay a 225,000 dram rent for their shops.
The traders took minibuses and gathered near the government building today after law-enforcement officers did not let them make their way to the Republic Square
"The rent is too high and in addition, we pay for electricity. It has always been like that, but we are not able to work now due to the current global economic crisis and the drop in sales," said traders.
They were scared to give out their names saying that the market administration demanded eight of the workers who had raised the issue in government yesterday to hand in the keys of their shops and leave.
The traders appealed to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan yesterday, but there is still no reply. Government official Alexander Ghazaryan told "A1+" that the issue was raised yesterday and the government needs two days to get acquainted with it. He added that the territory is the property of the government and only the government has the last word.
"Hrazdan" traders complain about their conditions as well.
Although the market administration has told them that they would lower the rent prices by 30,000 drams, according to protesters, that is not a solution to the problem.
They decided to gather in front of the government building tomorrow as well and said that they would not open up their shops.
The "Hrazdan" fair is owned by member of the Republican Party, Deputy Ashot Aghababyan.
