Police tried to intimidate drivers
The drivers in Gyumri City who use vehicles with Georgian license plates today continued their motor procession protesting against the changes in customs clearance.
Over 100 drivers participated in the processions which ended near the police building
The local police again tried to prevent the protests, impounding the cars and taking the drivers to the police department, chairman of the Gyumri-based Asparez journalists club Levon Barseghyan told A1+.
"Two drivers were illegally taken in the morning to the Akhuryan police department where they were persuaded, even intimidated," said Barseghyan.
Levon Barseghyan went to the police department on receiving the drivers' call.
"When I got there, the police were dragging the third driver off the car. On seeing me they took to flight," Barseghyan added.
Some ten police cars accompanied today's motor procession which was held without major incidents.
Similar protests were held in Stepanav, Noyemberyan and Vanadzor.
Drivers intend to go ahead with their plan to continue the motor procession until the government hears their demands.
Drivers were angered by the change in the legislation stipulating that "temporary import" now is possible only for 15 days rather than 30 days that was a valid provision until February 5 and that a citizen of Armenia is entitled to "temporary import" of a vehicle only twice a year.
The goal of this legislative amendment is to prevent cheap customs clearance. Armenians who buy cars in Georgia prefer having them registered there and getting Georgian license plates and then crossing the Armenian-Georgian border once a month to get the status of a "temporary importer" instead of full customs clearance of the car.
Drivers complain that customs officers determine the cost of purchased vehicles arbitrarily.
