Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The demonstrators against the electricity price hike in Armenia have resumed the protest in capital Yerevan.

“Stand up, Armenia!” movement uniting the participants of the protest action against the increase of electricity tariffs in Armenia, convened a rally on Freedom Square in Yerevan on July 17, said the message on the Facebook page of the movement, RIA Novosti reported.

“As a result of the public discussions in Baghramyan Avenue, a mechanism has been worked out for adopting decisions on coordinating the movement against the increase of electricity tariffs,” said the message.

The Commission on Regulation of Public Services in Armenia in its June 17 meeting approved a decision to increase electricity tariffs by 6.93 Armenian drams (about $0.015). As a result, starting on August 1 consumers would have been required to pay 48.78 drams instead of the current 41.85 per 1 kWh per day.

The council of the “Stand up, Armenia!” movement has been created which includes the participants of the discussions, according to the message.

“Stand up, Armenia!” movement demands to cancel the decision of Armenia’s Commission on Regulation of Public Services on increasing the electricity tariffs till August 1. If the demands are not fulfilled, the participants of the movement intend to continue the protests.

Earlier, on July 14, several dozens of the “No to Plunder” initiative activists, fighting back against electricity price hike, held another sit-in at the junction of Mashtots and Amiryan streets in the center of Yerevan.

They demanded policemen be punished for using violence against protestors and journalists during the rallies on June 23 and July 6 in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue.

The protests have been ongoing since the evening of June 23 on one of the main arteries in Yerevan – Marshal Baghramyan Avenue. Protesters barricaded this and other central streets in the city with plastic garbage cans.

The Armenian police brutally dispersed the crowd with the help of water cannons first early morning on June 23 and detained nearly 240 activists and protesters. Police officers also used force against many journalists during the crackdown.

After two weeks of sedentary picketing in Yerevan, police cleared Baghramyan Avenue of demonstrators on July 6, while more than 40 protesters were arrested.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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