Armenia: Yerevan protest enters third night
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 24 June 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Armenia: Yerevan protest enters third night, 24 June 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55b5f42229.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 24, 2015
By RFE/RL's Armenian Service
Protesters in Yerevan and other cities are demonstrating against an electricity price increase of over 16 percent.
Armenians demonstrating against a hike in electricity prices are preparing for a third night blockading the capital's central avenue.
Thousands of protesters continued their sit-in protest on Yerevan's Baghramian Avenue on June 24, after a second attempt to march toward the presidential residence on the evening of June 23 was blocked by police.
More than a dozen lawmakers, actors, and other celebrities spent the night at the protest site, forming a "live" shield between the police and the protesters.
A leader of the pressure group called No To Plunder said he believed the police presence at the protest site has decreased to avoid confrontation.
The demonstrators have been demanding that authorities revoke a decision by state regulators to raise electricity prices by 7 drams (about $0.02) per kilowatt/hour. The 16 percent price hike is due to come into effect on August 1.
Demonstrations were held in other towns across the country, including Gyumri, Charentsavan, Abovyan, and Ashtarak.
The unrest is the most serious that Armenia has seen in years, raising concerns about political stability in the impoverished former Soviet republic, which has become increasingly dependent on Russia in recent years.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
