9  01.07.15 - July 1: Protest against electricity price rise

Electric Yerevan: Police urge for removal of barricades

Electric Yerevan: Police urge for removal of barricades

PanARMENIAN.Net - Deputy Chief of the Yerevan police Valery Osipyan called on participants of a rally against a power tariff hike on Bagramyan Avenue to voluntarily clear trash containers they placed across the avenue to build barricades. Osipyan urged them to restore public order, Panorama.am reports.

“You are conscious citizens. I think it is time for you to remove trash containers and restore public order,” he said.

Protesters said they will do it only when all of their demands are met: to revoke the June 17 decision of Armenia’s Public Service Regulatory Commission about a rise in electricity tariff by AMD 6.93; to bring to count the management of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) Company; and to punish all policemen who committed violations during the events early June 23.

Osipyan called on the rally participants to set up a group of experts and participate in the audit to be conducted soon in Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC.

“You have already done a useful thing. Many of you are unaware of that. You did it and got a positive assessment of society and the police. Now you are wasting time,” Osipyan told demonstrators.

As was reported earlier, on June 28 the demonstrators divided into two groups after blocking Bagramyan Avenue in downtown Yerevan for over a week. The presidential residence, the parliament, the Constitutional Court, and several embassies are located on that avenue. Following the June 27 statement of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, the organizers of rallies - members of “No to Plunder” civic initiative urged protesters to leave Bagramyan Avenue and move to Liberty Square nearby. Yet some of protesters refused to leave and continue blocking Bagramyan Avenue. On July 2 the Armenian police removed water cannons and armored personnel carriers from Bagramyan Avenue in Yerevan, while on the previous day the police called on the organizers and participants to respect the Constitution, laws and legitimate interests of others and unblock the avenue voluntarily.

#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.

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