They were forcibly removed from the council’s main auditorium after physically and verbally clashing with their pro-government colleagues.
The municipal legislature met to discuss Avinian’s decision earlier this week to scale back the price hikes that are due to come into force on Saturday. The mayor’s office will replace the existing bus and minibus fees of 100 drams (25 U.S. cents) per ride with a complex tariff system involving electronic payments for season tickets.
Commuters will have to pay 9,000 drams ($22) per month, 24,000 drams per quarter and 90,000 drams per annum for an unlimited number of bus, trolleybus or metro rides. More importantly, a ticket valid for 180 minutes is due to cost around 300 drams.
The two opposition groups represented in the city council kept calling on citizens to boycott the higher fares and continue paying 100 drams from February 1 even after Avinian announced on Tuesday that the introduction of a new, one-ride ticket that will cost 150 drams.
The council, controlled by Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party with the help of its official and unofficial allies, approved this change after the chaotic scenes sparked by a shouting match between Avinian and Samvel Hakobian, a member of the opposition Mayr Hayastan bloc. Avinian banned Hakobian from attending the session as opposition and pro-government councilors insulted and jostled each other, interrupting the session.
“Hooliganism will not be tolerated in this hall,” the mayor said before a special police squad called up by him forcibly removed Hakobian from the auditorium.
Several other Mayr Hayastan councilors were also forced out after trying unsuccessfully to stop the eviction. The other members of the bloc holding seats in the council walked out in protest. Manuk Sukiasian, a Mayr Hayastan leader, condemned the use of force as illegal when he spoke to journalists after the incident.
“I’m here not to brawl but to expose their ineptness,” Hakobian said for his part.
The session was boycotted by councilors representing the other opposition group led by former Hayk Marutian, a former Yerevan mayor who has a large following on social media.