Riot police free central street in Armenian capital from ‘Electric Yerevan” protesters

YEREVAN, September 12. / ARKA /. Riot police in the Armenian capital has unlocked the downtown Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in the early hours of morning today, occupied by several hundred  mostly young people yesterday evening in  protest against a recent rise in the price of electricity.

The avenue was cleared 30 minutes after the expiry of a police ultimatum that was issued to the protesters late on Friday. They did not use batons, water cannons or other riot gear.

The police said after dispersing the youth activists they have detained several people. Ashot Aharonyan, a spokesperson for the police, told Novosti Armenia that the actions of law enforcement agencies were completely legal and legitimate.

"The police made a relevant statement, noting that the actions of the protesters were contrary to the law… The text of the statement was distributed in printed form to protesters, including journalists covering the protest action. They were given a specific period, after which the police carried out the functions assigned to it. Police actions were completely legal and legitimate, ‘said Aharonyan.

The statement said  any form of exercising  the right of assembly must conform to the Constitution and the law "On Freedom of Assembly", but this very right is not absolute and may be restricted in a democratic society in the interests of public order and the protection of constitutional rights and freedoms of others including for ensuring normal traffic.

The police stressed that the continued blocking of Baghramyan Avenue was illegal and violated the interests of the society.

The young people demand that the government scrap the 17 percent rise in electricity tariff that was approved by state regulators in June

On June 17, Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) voted to raise electricity tariffs by 6.93 drams ($0.015 or 16.7%) per kilowatt-hour beginning from August 1. The decision gave rise to street protests in Yerevan and other cities.

The No To Plunder civil campaign which organized the protests blocked Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in central Yerevan with a two-week sit-in, demanding that the government reverse the price hike. Baghramyan Avenue was unblocked by the police early morning July 6.

On June 27, following his meeting with Russian Minister of Transport Maksim Sokolov (co-head of the Russia-Armenia Intergovernmental Commission), President Serzh Sargsyan announced the upcoming audit of the Electricity Networks of Armenia, which originally sought a 40% rise. Sargsyan also said that the government would pay the tariff increase for households pending the completion of the audit.  -0- - 

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10:29 09/12/2015