YEREVAN. – Minutes ago, a birthday was celebrated at Baghramyan Avenue in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, and where a sit-in is still in progress against the recent decision to raise the price of electricity in the country.
The Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informed from the scene that the friends of Sona Hovakimyan had brought small cakes to the avenue to celebrate her 28th birthday.
“I would have never imagined that I would celebrate my birthday in this way,” Hovakimyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. “We just decided with friends to come here to spend the evening at the place of the sit-in.”
At present, the demonstrators are singing patriotic songs and dancing.
There are no police officers forming a human wall at the site. Instead, however, the Police water cannons and armored vehicles are still at Baghramyan Avenue. And the officers of the law walk around the area on a regular basis.
This time Armenian politicians, public figures, and show business stars have not formed a human wall between the police and the demonstrators.
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.
Photos by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am
