Yerevan Parking Fees Illegally Increased, Court Rules
Yerevan, May 26 – The Criminal Court of Appeals has rejected an appeal from the Yerevan City Council, confirming that the 2025 increase in parking fees for ‘red and blue lines’ was illegal. This decision, announced yesterday, means citizens may be entitled to compensation for damages incurred due to the unlawful administrative act.
Court Upholds Illegality of 2025 Fee Hike
Attorney Vahe Grigoryan, a prominent figure in the ‘Mother Armenia’ movement, posted on Facebook that the Court of Cassation’s rejection of the Yerevan City Council’s appeal solidifies the fact that the 2025 increase in parking fees was unlawful. This ruling establishes an unchangeable precedent, highlighting that the Yerevan Municipality and the ruling political force illegally collected significant sums through this administrative act.
Grigoryan emphasized that citizens who suffered damages as a result of this unlawful administration are entitled to compensation according to the law. The ‘Mother Armenia’ movement, in cooperation with Grigoryan, challenged the parking fee increase, with the eponymous faction acting as the applicant in court.
Public Outcry and Previous Warnings
The issue of increased parking fees has been a contentious topic in Yerevan. Earlier reports from ‘Zhoghovurd’ newspaper in December 2025 questioned whether ‘red lines’ would increase in 2026, indicating ongoing public concern. Manuk Sukiasyan, a prominent figure, previously stated in September 2025 that there were “widespread sound signals and curses directed at these authorities from morning till evening” regarding the red lines and traffic jams.
In May 2025, the Administrative Court invalidated the ‘red lines’ fee increase set for 2025, a decision that was further elaborated upon by the court in December 2024, explaining why the 13-fold increase in ‘red lines’ was unlawful. Citizens were then advised to be content with smaller packages.
City Council’s Stance and Future Implications
Despite the legal challenges, a member of the City Council from the Civil Contract party stated in December 2024 that the party again intended to collect 160,000 drams from citizens for ‘red lines’. This suggests a persistent effort by the city authorities to implement these fees, despite public and legal opposition.
In September 2024, it was reported that over 1 billion 539 million 256 thousand drams had been paid for ‘red and blue lines’ in zones A and B during the first eight months of that year, a sum that exceeded the combined totals for 2022-2023. This highlights the substantial revenue generated from these parking fees.
Deputy Mayor of Yerevan mentioned in June 2024 that parking prices in the red zones might be reviewed again by the end of the year, indicating a continuous evaluation of the fee structure. There were also questions in April 2024 about why fines were issued for parking in red lines on Sundays, to which the municipality provided clarification.
What’s Next for Yerevan Citizens?
With the Court of Cassation’s definitive ruling, the focus now shifts to the process of compensation for affected citizens. The ‘Mother Armenia’ movement and attorney Vahe Grigoryan are expected to pursue further legal actions to ensure that those who paid the illegally increased fees receive their rightful compensation. The decision also puts pressure on the Yerevan Municipality to reconsider its approach to parking fee policies and ensure future compliance with legal standards.
This ruling sets a significant precedent for administrative transparency and accountability in Yerevan, potentially impacting other areas where municipal decisions affect public finances.
Source: https://www.pastinfo.am/hy/news/2026/05/26/040966/1969557
