Activists of the civil movement "No to Plunder" protesting against electricity tariff hike in Armenia announced on Friday, September 11 their intention to resume street rallies.

"We have decided to take to the streets again and struggle, demanding the annulment of the decision. Cancellation is the only option,” activist Maxim Sargsyan said during the rally at Freedom Square in central Yerevan.

According to him, the authorities have not fulfilled their promise to compensate for the energy price hike till the completion of the audit at Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA).

“The company demands that business entities pay for the energy consumed at increased rates. Meanwhile, President Sargsyan stated that the compensation applied to everybody. In fact, they deceived us. Increase in tariffs for business entities would lead to a rise in price of their products, including necessity goods,” Interfax quoted Sargsyan as saying.

The picketers conducted a sit-in demonstration on Baghramyan Avenue, Novosti-Armeniya reports.

Several hundred protesters tried to burst into the presidential administration, located on Baghramyan Avenue, but were unable to break through the police cordon.

Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) Company earlier submitted a bid to the Public Services Regulatory Commission about a rise in electricity tariffs. The parliamentary opposition considers the move unfounded and initiated to serve the interests of ENA. The current night-time tariff for the population is AMD 31.85 per KWH, the daytime tariff is AMD 41.85. The bid of ENA proposed raising the tariffs to AMD 48 and 58 respectively. Yet the Commission satisfied the bid only partially on June 17, with the increase set at AMD 6.93 instead of AMD 17.

Activist of the civil movement “No to Plunder” initiated demonstrations against the energy price hike on central Baghramyan Avenue, demanding that the government cancel the decision.

Early on June 23 morning, the police used special equipment, including water cannons, to disperse a rally against electricity price hike in Yerevan.

The protesters blocked the avenue for around two weeks, but later moved to Freedom Square.