Sukhumi holds protest action against rise of electricity prices

Today, in Sukhumi, about 100 persons took part in a rally to protest against price rise and for transparency and accountability of the ministries, departments and state-owned companies.

The protest action held in the square near the dramatic theatre was initiated by a group "We are for reforms", founded in the social network "Facebook", the social organization "Akhyatsa" and "Young Abkhazia".

The resolution of the Government of Abkhazia dated September 11, 2012, increases the price of electricity in the republic from 30 to 60 kopecks per 1 kW/h starting from January 1, 2013. However, the parliament recommended suspending the resolution till increase of salaries to employees paid from state budget.

The participants of the protest action called on the government and the President to cancel the decision to increase prices of electricity. They also demanded to launch a real reform of the political system of the country, to publish budgets of the state-owned company "Chernomorenergo", the Committee for Repatriation and the Foundation for Repatriation fund for the preceding 10 years.

Besides, they demanded the urgent adoption of a package of anti-corruption laws, including those obliging officials to publish their declarations of income and prohibiting officials and their family members to rent or to buy state property and to open accounts abroad, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

"In case if our demands are ignored, we will start the action on filing collective claims to the courts against the state-owned company 'Chernomorenergo' because of the quality of products provided by it," states the resolution adopted at the rally.

Meanwhile, according to the statement of Prime Minister Leonid Lakerbaya, the decision to raise prices was made to "keep the industry alive".