Security officers on Strike

Ter-Petrosian activist Bekaisa posts a story detailing the start of a strike by 38 employees of the Special Facilities Security Regiment (SFSR) who say they haven’t been paid their salaries for seven months. However, ArmInfo reports that it isn’t the government at fault here, but the Yerevan Water Company.

The strikers told Arminfo they are in charge of the security for the water supply system running from Garni to Yerevan. They said that other SFSR employees tasked with the security of water facilities have not been paid their salaries and bonuses for 2006 and 2007 either. The regiment is in the system of the Armenian Police but it is the Yerevan water supply company that is the contractor of the security service. The regiment’s employees have already sent a letter to Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan because their demands to be paid their salaries have not produced any result. The security personnel of this facility that supplies water from Garni to Yerevan are paid 51,000 drams (165 dollars) a month.

On the face of it, this news has nothing to do with the presidential election. In reality, however, it has everything. Bekaisa as well as others in Ter-Petrosian’s campaign team are hoping for the weakening of the security apparatus in what many believe will be plans for post-election street protests staged in order to topple the government and come to power.