Over 500 people take part in action in Gyumri

A sit-in strike continues in central Gyumri for the fourth day. Today, the number of protesters against the increase in electricity tariff has exceeded 500 people.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 17, the Commission for Regulation of Public Services (CRPS) of Armenia made a decision to increase electricity tariffs, starting from August 1, by 6.93 drams per 1 kW/h. On June 19, in the Armenian capital, activists declared a sit-in strike and on June 24, about 50 persons took part in protest action in Theatre Square of Gyumri.

"Today, much more people have gathered in Theatre Square in Gyumri than in previous days," Ayk Barsegyan, an activist, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "Our sit-in strike in the square continues around the clock; and in the evening we hold marches along the main streets of Gyumri, attracting more people," said the activist, adding that some activists from Gyumri take part in protest actions in Bagramyan Avenue in Yerevan.

Today, the number of protesters in downtown Yerevan exceeded 15,000.

Protest actions against the increase of electricity tariff are held in several other cities of Armenia: tonight, they began protests in Vanadzor, Armavir, Charentsavan and other cities.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.