Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

As expected, a price hike in electricity costs had a ‘volcano effect’ on population in Armenia. The Armenian government had to face public outrage after the long-anticipated decision that has left many Armenians worried over increasing utility costs.

Protesters have organized a three-day sit-in in the capital, Yerevan, as well as other cities throughout the country.

The government’s response to the peaceful protests was a brutal police crackdown in an attempt to forcefully break up the rally. With the latest ‘attack’ on its citizens, the incompetent and corrupt Armenian government is steadily losing all confidence and legitimacy from the people.

The Commission on Regulation of Public Services in Armenia in its June 17 meeting approved a decision to increase electricity tariffs by 6.93 Armenian drams (about $0.015). According to this decision, consumers are required to pay 48.78 drams instead of the current 41.85 per 1 kWh per day starting August 1.

The approval of price hike has spurred strong discontent among the population, as many in Armenia believe that the rise in electricity tariffs will consequently trigger a price increase for crucial basic goods and services in a country already plagued by a miserable economic situation.

The government is already mulling an increase in the price of cigarettes, alcohol, gasoline and natural gas.

The latest statistics show that the share of Armenians living in poverty accounts for 32 percent of the country's overall population. Considering this fact, the recent price hike in utility services and as a result, in the prices of essential goods, will become an intolerable burden for an already impoverished people.

At the June 19 rally against the electricity price hike, the “No to Plunder” initiative group had announced that it would start a three-day sit-in at Liberty Square in Yerevan, and gave authorities a deadline of 7pm June 22 to address the problem.

Protesters rallying against the increase in electricity tariffs stated that if the decision to hike electricity costs was not repealed by their deadline, they would head toward the presidential office, which is located on Baghramyan Avenue.

Once the deadline had expired, the demonstrators marched towards the avenue. They were, however, met by a police blockade on Baghramyan Avenue. A sit-in was subsequently staged on the avenue in front of the police line.

Early morning on June 23, the police brutally dispersed the crowd with the help of a water cannon and detained many activists and journalists.

Eighteen people were injured during the police crackdown of the peaceful protest against the electricity price hike in Armenia, Armenian media reported.

As a result of the clashes, seven people sought medical assistance, three of whom hospitalized.

Police detained a total of 237 activists and protesters from the sit-in. The law enforcement forces have not yet discussed how many of them were subsequently released, what reports were prepared, etc.

The Armenian media also reported that a criminal case will be launched on the clash with police during the crackdown.

While dispersing the protesters on Baghramyan Avenue, the police officers also used force against many journalists.

Armenian media outlets said journalists from Gala TV, Radio Liberty’s Armenian service, the Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper, the Hetq, News.am, and Panarmenian.net news agencies were taken to various police stations.

Using brutal physical force, the police confiscated and shattered the journalists’ cameras and made sure to destroy the data cards in the cameras as well. Media reports quoting unidentified sources claim that the police used violence against detainees, including journalists, on route to the police stations.

With a new ‘attack’ on the people, the current Armenian government has lost its last chance to be the dominant power in the county. It once again confirmed that instead of pulling the country out of the economic crisis to gain the confidence of the impoverished nation, it is only capable of using force and consequently leading the country to chaos, which is not far off.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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