Electricity protests continue despite declining number of protesters

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

The protests in Armenia -- also referred as ‘electro Maidan’ in Russian media-- continue in capital Yerevan, while it stopped in country’s second largest city Gyumri.

Despite Armenia media reports over the decrease in the number of protesters in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue in the last three days, the situation still remains difficult to predict.

The participants in the protests against the increase of electricity tariffs do not intend to negotiate with the police.

The newly created coordination group said it has no intention to hold talks with the police on moving the demonstrations to a different location, David Sanasaryan, the member of the coordination group told the Radio Azatutyun (Armenian service of Radio Liberty).

Protesters on Baghramyan Avenue have formed a new initiative against the electricity price hike. The group aims to coordinate the work of the various groups at the sit-in.

Earlier, Armenian police issued another statement in connection with the ongoing rally on Baghramyan Avenue. They claim that the illegal march started on June 22 turned into an indefinite protest, violating transport and pedestrian traffic.

They also withdrew equipment from Baghramyan Avenue aimed at dispersing protesters, such as the water cannon, on July 2.

The police also warned that they would use the full extent of their power in case protesters rejected the calls to move to relocate..

During the first days of the demonstration, the police attempted to disperse the protest using force. However, seeing that this can complicate the situation and even cause the protests to grow, the police preferred to hold waiting position to see if the protests would fade away on their own.

Armenian police brutally dispersed the crowd with the help of water cannons early morning on June 23. Moreover, it detained nearly 240 activists and protesters. The police officers also used force against many journalists during the crackdown of the protest on Baghramyan Avenue.

Furthermore, the brutal crackdown of the protests by police was condemned by the international organizations.

Human Rights Watch demanded from the authorities to immediately launch an impartial and thorough investigation in order to clarify the legality and proportionality of the use of force and in case of violations to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

In meantime, the government attempts to convince the demonstrators with various ways to stop their protest.

Earlier, President Serzh Sargsyan stated that the government would cover this price hike until an audit is conducted at the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) Company, which supplies electricity to the country’s residents.

The Armenian media reported that this has divided the activists into separate groups and caused decrease of the number of protesting people in the Baghramyan Avenue.

"168 Zham" newspaper however, warned that the civil movement could get new breath in any moment.

Armenian economist Ashot Yeghiazaryan considered that Sargsyan’s statement to conduct audit at the ENA is a way to buy time.

“Through the audit tariff increase must be justified to 7 drams ($0.01), but funding through extra budgetary resources is absurd,” Yeghiazaryan said, Armenian media reported.

He added Armenia is deprived of the opportunity to buy cheap electricity, as nuclear power plant in the next year will be stopped for repairs and Russia will not help Armenia in building a new nuclear power plant.

Economists earlier warned that by 2017, electricity prices will rise again when the Metsamor nuclear power plant will be suspended for six months for maintenance.