YEREVAN. – Moments ago, two women brought a group of children to Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, where a sit-in is still in progress against the recent decision to raise the price of electricity in the country.

The Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informed from the scene that around two dozen children marched along the avenue singing the national anthem of Armenia. The women accompanying them, however, did not wish to comment on this “visit” by the children.

The demonstrators applauded the children.

Subsequently, Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan approached them and warned that thus they are aggravating the situation, and he urged to have the children removed from Baghramyan Avenue. Osipyan noted that the children should not be there.

The children left with forming rows and singing.

On the evening of June 23, numerous people had commenced a sit-in at Baghramyan Avenue, closed it off, and demanded the revoking of the decision to raise the price of electricity in the country. But on June 28—and following President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement—some of them went to Liberty Square, whereas the majority stayed at Baghramyan Avenue.

Despite numerous protests, the Public Services Regulatory Commission recently increased the price of electricity in Armenia by 6.93 drams—instead of 17 drams, proposed by the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) Company—, per cubic meter, and this decision will take effect on August 1. But the decision is expected to be followed by an increase in the prices of numerous products and services in the country.

President Sargsyan, however, stated that the government will cover this price hike until an audit is conducted at the ENA, which supplies electricity to the country’s residents. Sargsyan also said he does not rule out returning the company to the Armenian government and transferring it to competitive management, if the audit shows that the aforesaid increase in electricity prices is unjustified.