Activists in Armenia put forward new demands to authorities

The civil movement "Arise, Armenia!" has released a statement, which calls for resignation of the Commission on Regulation of Public Services and nationalization of Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) "Electric Grids of Armenia".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that starting June 17 Yerevan hosts mass protests against the decision to raise the electricity tariff from August 1 by 6.93 drams per 1 kW/h. President Serzh Sargsyan stated that the company "Electric Grids of Armenia" will be audited; and till the end of the audit the government will take over the burden of the increased tariff. On July 16, the board of the initiative group "Arise, Armenia!" was formed, which demands a complete cancellation of the increase of electricity tariff.

The statement informs that all the arguments and justifications of new demands will be presented by the board to the public on August 3.

Meanwhile, Ovik Abramyan, the Prime Minister, said that the increase in electricity tariff will be compensated by a sale to the American power holding company named "Contour Global" of the Vorotan cascade of HPPs (hydroelectric power plants).

Earlier, on July 31, members of the movement "Arise, Armenia!" promised to continue protests should the authorities fail to present a public explanation of the sources to be used for subsidizing the increased tariff.

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