YEREVAN (Sputnik) — The protesters are asking that Armenian authorities put on hold the decision on raising the household electricity tariffs, start talks on the lowering of the tariffs with activists and hold accountable the police officers who used force against activists and journalists earlier this week.
Thousands are back this evening to keep the protest in #Yerevan going. pic.twitter.com/B71yi1lgaI
— Ilya Petrenko (@ilpetrenko_rt) June 24, 2015
Protests against the raising of electricity fees started in Yerevan on June 19. Police dispersed the protesters using water cannons. About 240 of the demonstrators were taken to police stations.
Thousands #Protest in #Armenia Amid Economic Hardship: http://t.co/FS9bgHzCcx #ArmeniaMaidan #Yerevan pic.twitter.com/uQMHc6rRaV
— Geysar Gurbanov (@geysar) June 24, 2015
Protest action #Yerevan #Armenia #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/pNwKA0siJg
— Samvel Martirosyan (@Kornelij) June 24, 2015
The protests resumed on Tuesday evening, when demonstrators marched to the presidential residence.
On Thursday evening, participants in the ongoing protests in the Armenian capital rejected the prime minister’s request to clear one of the city's central avenues.
Good morning, Yerevan! The #ElectricYerevan protest has been going for more than 12 hours now. Photo from @CivilNetTV pic.twitter.com/nMnUyUruhX
— Karena Avedissian (@KarenaAv) June 24, 2015
Armenia’s authorities made the decision to raise electricity tariffs by 16.7 percent on June 17. The raise will be effective as of August 1, 2015.
Protest against an increase of electricity prices in the Armenian capital Yerevan on June 24. By Karen Minasyan #AFP pic.twitter.com/yr5rC6mm7N
— Stephanie Beauge (@sbeaugeAFP) June 24, 2015