Armenian premier calls on protesters to begin dialogue with government
“Such a style will produce no results. The blocking of one of the main avenues of the city, and the hindering their free movement will bring no benefit,” he said Thursday at the government’s regular session adding that the government is ready to discuss any issue.
Speaking about the police’s brutality against peaceful demonstrators, Abrahamyan said that investigation has been launched into the incident. He said that it is very important to identify and punish those policemen who abused their authority.
On June 17 Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) formally raised the prices of electricity by over 16 percent, down from 40 percent rise sought by Armenia’s Russia-owned power distribution company - the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA). This means that the daytime electricity price for households will rise from 42 drams to almost 49 drams (10 U.S. cents) per kilowatt/hour. The households will pay almost 39 drams per kilowatt/hour during night hours.
This decision triggered public backlash in the country. In early morning on Tuesday, the police responded to the backlash by chasing away Armenian citizens who gathered in Baghramyan Avenue for protest. Some 240 protesters were taken to police stations and 25 were injured.
After that, the peaceful protest resumed with renewed vigor and demonstrators are in Baghramyan Avenue now. ---0----