Police in Yerevan demand that protesters free Baghramyan Avenue
YEREVAN, September 11. / ARKA /. Police in the Armenian capital city Yerevan demanded today that several hundred mostly young people from No to Plunder youth group, free the downtown Baghramyan Avenue, which they blocked in renewed protest against the recent increase in electricity prices.
Police officers warned that otherwise the demonstration would be broken up forcibly because it was not sanctioned by municipal authorities.
Novosti-Armenia reports that protesters tried to break through a police line towards the presidential administration, located up on the avenue, but failed. Law-enforcement authorities have deployed additional riot police on the scene and also a water cannon.
Young people demand that the government scrap the 17 percent rise in electricity tariff that was approved by state regulators in June
On June 17, Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) voted to raise electricity tariffs by 6.93 drams ($0.015 or 16.7%) per kilowatt-hour beginning from August 1. The decision gave rise to street protests in Yerevan and other cities.
The No To Plunder civil campaign which organized the protests blocked Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in central Yerevan with a two-week sit-in, demanding that the government reverse the price hike. Baghramyan Avenue was unblocked by the police early morning July 6.
On June 27, following his meeting with Russian Minister of Transport Maksim Sokolov (co-head of the Russia-Armenia Intergovernmental Commission), President Serzh Sargsyan announced the upcoming audit of the Electricity Networks of Armenia, which originally sought a 40% rise. Sargsyan also said that the government would pay the tariff increase for households pending the completion of the audit. -0-
Police officers warned that otherwise the demonstration would be broken up forcibly because it was not sanctioned by municipal authorities.
Novosti-Armenia reports that protesters tried to break through a police line towards the presidential administration, located up on the avenue, but failed. Law-enforcement authorities have deployed additional riot police on the scene and also a water cannon.
Young people demand that the government scrap the 17 percent rise in electricity tariff that was approved by state regulators in June
On June 17, Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) voted to raise electricity tariffs by 6.93 drams ($0.015 or 16.7%) per kilowatt-hour beginning from August 1. The decision gave rise to street protests in Yerevan and other cities.
The No To Plunder civil campaign which organized the protests blocked Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in central Yerevan with a two-week sit-in, demanding that the government reverse the price hike. Baghramyan Avenue was unblocked by the police early morning July 6.
On June 27, following his meeting with Russian Minister of Transport Maksim Sokolov (co-head of the Russia-Armenia Intergovernmental Commission), President Serzh Sargsyan announced the upcoming audit of the Electricity Networks of Armenia, which originally sought a 40% rise. Sargsyan also said that the government would pay the tariff increase for households pending the completion of the audit. -0-