YEREVAN. - Yerevan Deputy Chief of Police Valery Osipyan sat in Baghramyan Avenue by the protesters holding a sit-in and demanding to cancel the decision on electricity price hike.

As reported by the Armenian News – NEWS.am correspondent, the protesters were urging the police deputy chief to sit by them for about 10-15 minutes. Osipyan sat by the protesters and continued the negotiations.

It’s unknown what Osipyan is talking to the protesters.

The police officers have blocked the way of the thousands of protesters in Baghramyan Avenue. Baghramyan Avenue and Demirchyan Street are also filled with water cannons and military cars, as well as barbed wire. The police officers wear bullet-proof vests and are armed with shields and rubber sticks.

Along with the police officers, there are also lots of plainclothes men standing in front of the police chain. Despite the warnings, hundreds of protesters are continuing to sit on the ground. Part of them is just lying in Baghramyan Avenue, singing patriotic songs.

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.