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YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The Chief of Police of Armenia Vladimir Gasparyan said that the police will not stand any manifestation of aggression by those protesting against the electricity tariff hike and will punish any drunken person. As Armenpress reports, Gasparyan said that they have no problem if people are expressing their social demand but they won’t bear lawbreakers and armed people enter the protest site. Gasparyan added that such cases are prevented by the police in no time.
Reflecting on Armenian politicians, intellectuals and show business representatives who arrived at the protest spot to form a living wall between the protestors and the police, Gasparyan said that the living wall is a mere decoration at some points. “If they have come tender-heartedly to solve a problem, let them share their experience with the young so that no provocateurs enter among them,” Vladimir Gasparyan highlighted, adding that no one is going to scare the people. If there are no violations of the law, the police will not take measures.”
The new electricity tariff was approved at the session of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia on June 17. The electricity price has increased by 6, 93 AMD, reaching 48, 78 AMD per 1 kWh. Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC had suggested increasing the electricity price by 17 AMD per 1 kWh.
This decision caused protest among the public. The protestors have been participating in demonstrations and a sit-in since June 19. 237 citizens protesting against electricity price hike were arrested from Baghramyan Avenue and the territory near the Freedom Square on June 23 for violating the public order. The police used physical force and special measures to disperse the demonstration. A number of activists and journalists protesting against the increase in the electricity price were detained. They were later released and the protest currently continues on Baghramyan Avenue. The protestors demand to cancel the new electricity tariff.