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YEREVAN. – Being at Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, is already a political bid.

Opposition Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan stated the aforesaid at a press conference on Wednesday. She noted this reflecting on the “No to Plunder” initiative’s calls toward not politicizing their movement with a social demand—to revoke the recent decision to raise the price of electricity in the country.

“Of course, the problem is political,” said Postanjyan. “If it were not political, they would have petitioned to the social welfare minister, or [executive director Yevgeny] Bibin [of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) company], with their demand.”

The opposition MP also did not agree with the view that the movement is at a phase of stagnation.

“Baghramyan Avenue still remains on the agenda. The decision to stay there was a victory. Those who had left there are returning,” she added.

Zaruhi Postanjyan stressed that the President’s statement had aimed to disunite the movement and preempt the process.

On the evening of June 23, numerous people—led by the “No to Plunder” initiative—had commenced a sit-in at Baghramyan Avenue, 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—the “No to Plunder” members and supporters 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 (ENA) 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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