YEREVAN. - It’s already 3 hours the protest over electricity price hike is continuing in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue. The protesters demand to cancel the decision on electricity price rise (photos).

The protesters were approached by Bishop Bagrat Galsatanyan, who didn’t manage to persuade them to leave Baghramyan Avenue. Afterwards, Yerevan Deputy Chief of Police Valery Osipyan again made an announcement, urging to refrain from throwing bottles in the direction of the police officers. The protesters said they haven’t done such a thing, and there are provocateurs who are trying to incite clashes between the police officers and citizens.  

At the moment, the citizens continue their sit-in.

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.