Yerevan Police Disperse Armenians Protesting Against Electricity Fee Hikes

YEREVAN (Sputnik) – Police have dispersed demonstrators gathered in the central Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in Armenia’s capital to protest against a hike in household electricity tariffs, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports. 

Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Yerevan on Friday, blocking the Marshal Baghramyan Avenue. In the early hours of Saturday police demanded that the demonstrators clear the avenue. Those who refused to follow the law enforcement order were detained. The exact number of those taken to police stations has not been confirmed.

Armenian authorities announced a planned 16.7-percent increase in household electricity tariffs on June 17. Two days later, mass protests against the rate hike began in Yerevan, with activists blocking the central Marshal Baghramyan Avenue and later attempting to march to the presidential residence. Protests were organized on several occasions throughout June and July.

During the June 23 protest, police detained some 240 people as they dispersed the activists. Over a dozen people had to seek medical assistance as police used water cannons to disperse the rally. During the July 6 protest, Armenian police arrested some 50 protesters.

The protesters demand that Armenian authorities cancel the decision to raise household electricity tariffs starting from August 1, begin talks on the lowering of the tariffs with activists and hold accountable the police officers who used force against activists and journalists during the June 23 demonstrations.