12.09.15 - Police clear Yerevan's Baghramyan avenue of protesters

Police disperse Electric Yerevan protest in Armenian capital

September 12, 2015 - 11:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - On the morning of September 12, at 5:00 a.m., the police forcibly dispersed the protest against energy tariff hike on Baghramyan Avenue, detaining some of the activists.

According to a statement by law enforcement bodies, "a police representative talked to the organizers of the picket to present the requirements of the authorized body, but the protesters did not respond to the corresponding operations of the police."

The police representative later told the picketers to vacate the avenue within 30 minutes. “The police suggested continuing the protest outside the roadway or at Freedom Square, warning that the protest would be forcibly dispersed in case protesters refused to follow the police's demands,” the statement reads.

As the participants of the campaign did not follow corresponding requirements, the police started unblocking Baghramyan Avenue.

Traffic was restored by around 6:00 a.m.

Water cannons were used to clean the avenue, once the picketers left.

11.09.15 - “No to Robbery” civic initiative's protest against electricity price rise

#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.