Armenia: DEM.AM plans to scale up protests against pension reform

In Armenia, activists of the group DEM.AM intend to scale up protests, should the government fail to amend the new pension law.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 9 in Yerevan, DEM.AM activists manage to stop traffic in Nalbandyan Street in front of the government, for more than two hours. Protesters demanded to change the electronic software of financial accounting, which is automatically deducting the new five-percent pension tax. The protesters saw the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who resigned on April 3, who is performing his duties until appointment of a new Premier; he expressed his willingness to discuss the problem.

"The Ministry of Finance is obliged to follow the decision of the Constitutional Court (CC), in particular, Part 2 of Point 7, which clearly indicated the need of recalculations," said Srbuhi Gazaryan, a member of the DEM.AM initiative.

The cause of the chaotic situation should be sought both in the actions of the Ministry of Finance, and in the uncertainty of the CC's decision, said Atutyun Aglamazyan, one of the protesters.

The message of this action will surely reach the government, David Manukyan, another DEM.AM activist, expressed his confidence. The appearance of Tigran Sargsyan before the activists is evidence, he said.

According to Manukyan, should the government fail to render a positive response to activists' demands, they will go on with actions of protest and civil disobedience.