Baku, Azerbaijan, June 28
Trend:
The participants of the protest action against the increase in electricity tariffs in Armenia have been cordoned off by the police in Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan, NEWS.am reported.
Earlier, the Armenian police chief, Vladimir Gasparyan gave the protesters time to disperse.
He said the Baghramyan Avenue will be cleared of those protesters who remain to continue the rally.
Asked by journalists whether the measures used to disperse the June 23 sit-in demonstration will be applied again or not, Gasparyan said, "we will act more harshly."
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.