YEREVAN. - During today’s awareness action, the ‘No to Plunder’ initiative members struggling against electricity price hike in Armenia gave the finger when passing by the buildings of the Armenian government and Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. This way they expressed their protest over the electricity tariff rise in Armenia. According to the Armenian News – NEWS.am correspondent, the awareness action participants stood in front of the Ministry and government buildings for one minute shouting ‘Shame on [Energy Minister] Zakharyan’ and ‘Shame on government.’  

As reported earlier, during the protest against electricity price hike, ‘No to Plunder’ initiative suddenly announced they are launching a 3-day sit-in in the Liberty Square, setting a deadline for the authorities till 19:00 Monday evening. In case the decision on electricity price hike isn’t revoked, they are planning to march to the president’s residence.

Despite the numerous protest actions 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.