YEREVAN. - The initiators of the sit-in held in Baghramyan Avenue finally declined to meet with President Serzh Sargsyan to discuss electricity tariff.

The discussions yielded no results, and the sit-in participants gave no response to the proposal made by Armenia’s Deputy Head of Police Hunan Poghosyan.

According to the sit-in initiators, the authorities have one solution - to cancel the decision on electricity price hike, for which no meeting is necessary.

After the 4-day sit-in, the deadline set by the ‘No to Plunder’ initiative for the government to reconsider its decision on price hike ended. The protesters thus moved in big crowds to Baghramyan Avenue, where the presidential headquarters are located. The protesters blocked their way, following which sit-in started. Early this morning the police managed to disperse the protest, arresting the activists and journalists.

In the evening greater masses of sit-in participants headed to Baghramyan Avenue.

Despite the numerous protests 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.