Yerevan mayor condemns violence against bus drivers amid fare disputes

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan clashed with opposition members during a heated municipal council session on Tuesday, warning that public transport drivers are increasingly vulnerable to harassment and violence over fare collection.

Avinyan said reforms introducing digital ticketing and contactless payments had been undermined by “thugs and hooligans” who assault drivers under the guise of boycotting fares. “Any drunk thug, a hooligan in the literal sense, can attack a driver and claim it is a boycott,” he declared.

Opposition councilor Hayk Grigoryan of the Mother Armenia faction accused the ruling Civil Contract party of mismanagement, criticizing the policy that obliges drivers to ensure passengers pay, which has led to violent incidents. He also blamed Avinyan for worsening congestion by approving construction permits in central Yerevan.

Avinyan rejected the charge, insisting no new permits had been issued under his tenure and attributing gridlock to the annual addition of 12,000 vehicles. He argued reforms would succeed only if the council were not obstructed by opposition members.