Activists abandon Square of France in Yerevan

The Armenian capital has resumed motor traffic through the intersection of Mashtots Avenue and Sayat-Nova Street, which was blocked by protesters against the rise in electricity tariff. One of the protesters was brought to the police.

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 demanding from the President to cancel the decision to raise the prices for electricity. On June 22, they began a march to the presidential residence; however, by the morning of June 23, the protestors in Bagramyan Avenue were dispersed by the police. On June 23, a new rally was started in the centre of Yerevan.

According to coordinators, today, by 1:00 a.m. Yerevan time, the protest on Bagramyan Avenue in Yerevan was about 10,000 strong. Also today, at about 0:24 a.m. about a thousand activists blocked the intersection in Square of France.

A resident of the village of Argavand, who took part in the action, was taken to the police, because, according to law enforcers, a firearm was found on him.

Later, activists abandoned the intersection of Mashtots Avenue and Sayat-Nova Street in Square of France; and the motor traffic there was resumed, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported today at 2:20 a.m. Yerevan time.

However, apart from the resident of the village of Argavand, policemen detained another participant of the action. According to preliminary data of the police, he drove his car in a drunken state; and as Valery Osipyan, Deputy Head of Yerevan Police, explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, an inquiry is underway.

The "Caucasian Knot" is following the developments in Armenia; all the news items are posted on the topical page "Armenia protests".

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