Police ban march through Yerevan centre

In Yerevan, at the end of the rally against the increase of electricity tariff, a group of protesters intended to march through the main streets of the city. However, the police blocked the exit from Freedom Square and did not allow the protesters holding an unsanctioned street action.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Armenia, people hold mass protests starting from June 19, after the decision had been made to increase the electricity tariff. The largest round-the-clock protest action took place in Bagramyan Avenue in Yerevan; however, on July 6, the police dispersed the protesters. On the same day, a new rally was started in Freedom Square.

On July 6, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported that political analyst Andrias Gukasyan, the ex-presidential candidate of Armenia, called on the protesters to march through the main streets of the city.

"This is a spontaneous action aimed to inform residents of Yerevan that the struggle for the cancellation of the decision to increase the electricity tariff still continues," Andrias Gukasyan has said.

About 100 rally participants responded to his call; however, the police blocked the exit from Freedom Square and did not allow the protesters to realize their plans. The policemen explained their actions by absence of permission to hold the march.

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