ElectricYerevan gets new impetus: rally to be held July 9

July 7, 2015 - 14:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Coordinators of the movement against energy tariff hike held a rally at Freedom Square in Yerevan on Monday, July 6 evening, and decided to spend the night at the venue to outline further steps.

The picketers also said another demonstration will be held Thursday, RFE/RL Armenian service reports.

Besides, coordinating group member Davit Sanasaryan declared he was going on a hunger strike, calling on all the citizens to join their struggle.

Armenian police dispersed the protesters in Baghramyan Avenue and cleared the roadway from barricades constructed of garbage cans.

46 people, including 6 minors were detained as a result of the measures taken by the police. The minors were immediately set free, with the remaining 40 citizens being also eventually released.

“The police’ performance was excellent, adequate and balanced: our officers can serve as an example for those in other countries,” Yerevan Police Deputy Chief Valery Osipyan told reporters. In response to a question on whether physical force was used against the detained protesters, Osipyan said no violence was perpetrated, adding that the police will prevent all the unauthorized rallies in the future, according to Panorama.am.

Azatutyun: Դավիթ Սանասարյանը հացադուլ հայտարարեց

Panorama.am: Վ.Օսիպյան. Ոստիկանությունն անօրինական երթերը կկանխի

#ElectricYerevan

Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) submitted a bid to the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) demanding to raise energy price by AMD 17 ($0.036). During the June 17 session, PSRC partially satisfied the bid raising the tariffs to AMD 6,93 ($0.0146) from August 1, causing major public outrage.

On June 19, members of the initiative “No to Plunder” started a sit-in protest at Freedom Square. On June 22, demonstrators headed towards the presidential headquarters on Baghramyan Avenue. The police, however, blocked the part of the street on the way to the President’s residence. The rally participants decided to continue the protest right in front of the police cordons. After a 10-hour sit-in, the police called on the demonstrators to leave the area, using water cannons to disperse the protesters.

Not only protesters but also journalists and operators covering the rally were subjected to the police violence: 237 people were detained and released later. The attitude of the police enraged the public: thousands gathered at Baghramyan Avenue demanding to cancel the Commission’s decision on energy price hike. Countless demonstrators spent several nights at the campaign venue.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan issued a statement on June 27 informing that an audit will be conducted at ENA, with the government to cover the costs of the tariff hike. He called on the protesters to clear the Avenue, but the demonstrators stayed put. After a discussion with picketers, “No to Plunder” coordinating group members decided to continue the protest at Freedom Square. Many demonstrators, however, disagreed. Thus, some of the protesters moved to Freedom Square, while the majority remained on Baghramyan Avenue, determined to go on until the Commission’s decision is cancelled, rather than suspended.