Serj Tankian, the lead singer of the world-renowned American Armenian rock band System of a Down (SOAD), has reacted to the ongoing fight against electricity price hike in Armenia, and to the police using force against the demonstrators (PHOTOS).

Tankian posted, on his Facebook account, an article about the respective protests in capital city Yerevan and commented as follows: “This article below says 3 things for me:

1) monopolistic foreign owned utility companies should be made a state asset and strictly regulated and audited by an independent panel. 2) Armenia's civic society is burgeoning and 3) previous successful campaigns at peaceful civic disobedience against unjust programs like the rate hike in public transportation have born fruit.”

The “No to Plunder” initiative had unexpectedly announced, during the June 19 rally against the increase in the price of electricity, that they were starting a three-day sit-in at Liberty Square in downtown capital city Yerevan, and giving the authorities deadline until 7pm Monday, June 22. They stated that if the electricity price-hike decision was not canceled by then, they will head towards the Office of the President, which is located on Baghramian Avenue. Once the deadline had expired, the demonstrators marched towards the avenue. The police, however, blocked Baghramian Avenue, and subsequently, a sit-in was staged on the avenue. On early Tuesday morning, however, the police dispersed the demonstration by using water cannon, and detained many activists and journalists.

Despite numerous protests, the Public Services Regulatory Commission increased the price of electricity in Armenia, and this decision will take effect on August 1. The decision, however, is expected to be followed by an increase in the prices of numerous products and services in the country.