Police used force against protesters in the center of Yerevan – RBC

dispersal of the rally in Yerevan. Archival photo

Photo: REUTERS 2015

Police forces pushed the protesters “No robbery” with the prospect Baghramian in the center of Yerevan, which It was blocked by the evening of 11 September the website “News – Armenia”. Earlier, police warned that the crackdown will start at 4:00 (5:00 MSK).

According to Interfax, the police arrested about fifty activists and the jet wash the roadway.

Activists protesting against the increase in electricity tariffs, entered the avenue after a brief rally at Freedom Square, they sat down on the pavement, chanting “Baghramyan – our”, “Cancel”, “We – the owners of the country”, ” Wake up, silly “and others, with the result that traffic along the avenue was blocked.

The protesters believe that the authorities have not fulfilled their promise to compensate for the increase in electricity tariffs to the completion of the audit of the company” Electric Networks of Armenia “(ENA). The first protest against the increase in electricity tariffs were held in the Armenian capital on June 19. Two days before these events, the Government decided to raise the electricity tariff from 1 August by about 16,7%.

Police July 6 cleared protesters from the center of Yerevan, ending a multi-day protest against rising tariffs.

Energy monopoly in the country is the company “Electric Networks of Armenia”, 100% owned by the Russian company “Inter RAO”. During the protests, President Serzh Sargsyan announced that rates will inevitably increased, but the difference will be compensated from the budget, until not completed an audit of the company.

The president also vowed to punish the company up to the nationalization, if it turns out that the tariff increase was economically justified. Previously, ESA has already been fined 75 million drams (8.8 million rubles.) For delay in the connection of new consumers.