Armenia’s Chief of Police visits Baghramyan Avenue

The Chief of Police of the Republic of Armenia –Vladimir Gasparyan –visited Baghramyan Avenue and talked to the people who
declared a sit-­in. Vladimir Gasparyan had a short conversation with MP Nikol Pashinyan who spent the whole night between the
protestors and the police. The Chief of Police of the Republic of Armenia also gave instructions to the policemen. The night was calm in Baghramyan Avenue, the protestors were provided with food and water at sunrise. Cleaning works were realized at the sight of the sit-­in in the morning.

The new electricity tariff was approved at the session of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia on June 17. The electricity price has increased by 6, 93 AMD, reaching 48,78 AMD per 1 kWh. Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC had suggested increasing the electricity price by 17 AMD per 1 kWh.

237 citizens protesting against electricity price hike were arrested from Baghramyan Avenue and the territory near the Freedom Square on June 23 for violating the public order. During long negotiations on June 23, the police of the Republic of Armenia suggested the protesters leaving the protest sight in order to restore the public order. It was also announced that the President of the Republic of Armenia is eager to listen to the protesters’ demands. However, the demonstrators turned down the offer to meet the President. The police applied to the organizers of the protest with the demand to stop the illegal march but the organizers didn’t obey. The police suggested the protestors returned to the Freedom Square and continued their protest there but this suggestion yielded no result. The police used physical force and dispersed the demonstration by using water cannon. A number of activists and journalists were detained. Later they were released and currently continue their protest.