Baku, Azerbaijan, June 25

Trend:

The demonstrators, protesting the increase in electricity tariffs in Armenia, have information about the provocations that are being prepared against them, News.am reported.

A member of the sit-down picket, Maksim Sargsyan told the deputy police chief of Yerevan Valeri Osipyan that they have information that people in civilian clothes hand out batons to passers-by on the territory of Cascade (a giant stairway in Yerevan). Maksim Sargsyan urged to verify the accuracy of the information.

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 the increased electricity tariffs. The protests in the streets resulted in use of water cannons against people. Over 230 people got 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.