YEREVAN. - While dispersing the protest over electricity price hike in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue, the police officers also used force against journalists, arresting many of them.

As reported by GALA, journalist Paylak Fahradyan has also been beaten up and arrested: “I have been arrested by the Armenian Policе, being brutally beaten up in the presence of all the police officers. I’m shouting, I’m yelling, I’m saying I’m a journalist, they cry to take me [to the police station], all this happening personally in the presence of Yerevan Chief of Police. My whole face is in bruises, they are beating me up, and something horrible is happening here.” 

Armenian News – NEWS.am photo reporter Arsen Sargsyan has also been arrested. Our reporter Aida Hovhannisyan’s hand was forcefully pulled and her camera was taken away.

According to the sources of Armenian News – NEWS.am, journalists of other news agencies have also been arrested.

At the moment, around twenty detainees are in Nor Nork Police Department. Various detainees have also been taken to other police departments.

After a 4-day sit-in, the deadline set by ‘No to Plunder’ initiative for the government ended on Monday. The law on electricity price hike not having been cancelled by then, the protesters marched to the presidential residence in Baghramyan Avenue. The police blocked their way, after which the sit-in started. Police cars, including water canons, military vehicles and barbed wires were also brought to Baghramyan Avenue and Demirchyan street. 

Earlier, 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