Baku, Azerbaijan, June 24
Trend:
Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the international committee of the Federation Council of Russia, considers the unrest in Armenia as the signs of "color revolution", RIA Novosti reported.
"At present, the external situation resembles as a conflict of people dissatisfied with their socio-economic well-being," Kosachev said June 24.
"But there is no need to delude ourselves," he said. "All "color revolutions" developed according to the same scenario. And Armenia is not insured against this."
The rally began in the Liberty Square in Yerevan June 19. It turned into a procession to the presidential residence June 22 evening. The police dispersed the demonstrators with rubber truncheons and water cannons June 23 morning.
Almost 240 people, including journalists, were taken to the police stations. The medical assistance was rendered to 25 people.
The deputy head of Yerevan's police said that all detained protesters have been already released.
On June 23, the Armenian police broke up a rally in the center of the country's capital. The rally was held in protest against increased electricity tariffs. The protests in the streets resulted in use of water cannons against people. Over 230 people were arrested as a result of violent crackdown, including journalists of Gala TV, the Radio Liberty's Armenian office, the Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper, the Hetq, News.am, Panarmenian.net news agencies.
On June 17, Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission, considering a request from the distribution company, Electric Networks of Armenia, which is a subsidiary of the Inter RAO UES, raised the electricity tariffs by 6.93 Armenian drams (about $0.015). This caused discontent among the population that believes the rise in the cost of electricity will lead to higher prices for essential goods and many services.
Edited by CN