YEREVAN. – The Special Investigation Service (SIS) of Armenia is preparing a report on special service officials’ carrying out violence and hampering the lawful professional activities of journalists during Tuesday’s protest in capital city Yerevan, and against the recent decision to raise the price of electricity in the country.
The SIS Press Secretary, Mikayel Aharonyan, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the service is preparing the aforesaid report on the basis of the respective information disseminated by the mass media.
As reported earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am had learned from the General Prosecutor’s Office that the latter’s Special Cases Investigation Department had forwarded the respective materials, video recordings as well as a letter from the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office Director, human rights activist Artur Sakunts, to the SIS in order to process them.
On early Tuesday morning, the Yerevan police dispersed the activists protesting against electricity price hike by using water cannon, and they detained many activists and journalists, who were later released.
On Tuesday evening, however, the sit-in participants marched toward the Office of the President—on Baghramian Avenue—yet again and with a larger crowd, but the police blocked their way again.
But the sit-in continues at the starting point of Baghramian Avenue, which is closed off, and traffic towards this boulevard is suspended.
Despite numerous protests, the Public Services Regulatory Commission recently increased the price of electricity in Armenia, and this decision will take effect on August 1. The decision, however, is expected to be followed by an increase in the prices of numerous products and services in the country.
