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YEREVAN. – The members of Armenia’s “No to Plunder” initiative are not satisfied with President Serzh Sargsyan’s announcement about conducting an audit at the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC.

Initiative member Artush Chibukhchyan told the aforesaid to reporters on Tuesday.

“None of our demands has been met in full, [and] therefore, we will continue our struggle,” said the activist. “We will continue our struggle both on the street and within the legal dimension.”

“No to Plunder” initiative member Sofya Hovsepyan, for her part, noted that if they see that the audit to be conducted in the ENA is an end unto itself, they will boycott it.

“God forbid that this is a hoax,” stated Hovsepyan. “Otherwise, not [just] Baghramyan [Avenue in capital city Yerevan], but several streets will be closed all at once in the city.”

On the evening of June 23, numerous people had commenced a sit-in at Baghramyan Avenue in capital city Yerevan, closed it off, and demanded the revoking of the decision to raise the price of electricity in the country. But on June 28—and following President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement—some of them went to Liberty Square, whereas the majority stayed at Baghramyan Avenue.

Despite numerous protests, the Public Services Regulatory Commission recently increased the price of electricity in Armenia by 6.93 drams—instead of 17 drams, proposed by the Electric Networks of Armenia Company—, per cubic meter, and this decision will take effect on August 1. But the decision is expected to be followed by an increase in the prices of numerous products and services in the country.

President Sargsyan, however, stated that the government will cover this price hike until an audit is conducted at the ENA, which supplies electricity to the country’s residents. Sargsyan also said he does not rule out returning the company to the Armenian government and transferring it to competitive management, if the audit shows that the aforesaid increase in electricity prices is unjustified.

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