Despite the heavy rain, roughly 200 protestors participating in the sit-in announced in Armenia’s Gyumri city over the electricity price hike have launched an awareness action starting from the Theatre Square. 

As reported by Armenian News - NEWS.am correspondent, the protestors are accompanied by a large number of police officers.  

Awareness action is simultaneously joined by citizens’ cars, turning the march into motorist protest.

The protestors carry out the action, scanning “Yerevan, Gyumri is with you,” “Join in, not only our light is getting more expensive” and “No to plunder.” They also sing patriotic songs.

Following the awareness action, the protestors will return to Gyumri’s Theatre Square to resume the sit-in.

According to Gyumri people, they will continue the sit-in unless some decision is taken in the capital.

Besides young men, the protest is also attended by elder people who have come with their grandchildren.

On the evening of June 23, 19:00, the citizens gathered in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue, blocked it and are still demanding to cancel the decision on electricity price hike adopted on June 17. 

Despite the numerous protests over the electricity price hike, the new electricity tariff was approved at the session of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia (PSRC) on June 17.  The electricity price has gone up by 6,93 AMD, reaching 48,78 AMD (previously 41,85 AMD) per 1 kWh. Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC had proposed to raise the electricity price by 17 AMD per 1 kWh.