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Yerevan update: Protesters get wet in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue, police concentrate forces

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hostage 28-1YEREVAN. – The police are concentrating large forces in Yerevan’s central Baghramyan Avenue.

The crowd marching to the avenue has now gathered in the forepart of the street, people getting wet in the heavy rain.

The police have banned the march participants to go further, noting that they are going to prevent the march, since there has been no notification about it beforehand and thus it is unlawful. Heritage Party representative Armen Martirosyan and several protestors are arguing, since the Heritage representatives announced that they will not move forward and will block the forepart of the avenue for half an hour. Several other young people insist on moving forward and break through the police cordon.

The police have already blocked the avenue. They have also brought internal troops to install barricades when necessary. Yerevan Chief of Police Ashot Karapetyan and his Deputy Valery Osipyan are on the site.

Finally, despite the complaints of the significant part of the protestors, it was decided to return to Liberty Square.

Yerevan sit-in continues despite heavy rain

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IMG_7375YEREVAN. – A sit-in of the activists protesting against rise in electricity prices continues despite heavy rain.

According to the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent, the number of participants is growing.

On early Tuesday morning, the Yerevan police dispersed the activists protesting against electricity price hike by using water cannon, and they detained many activists and journalists, who were later released.

On Tuesday evening, however, the sit-in participants marched toward the Office of the President—on Baghramian Avenue—yet again and with a larger crowd, but the police blocked their way again.

But the sit-in continues at the starting point of Baghramian Avenue, which is closed off, and traffic towards this boulevard is suspended.

Despite numerous protests, the Public Services Regulatory Commission recently increased the price of electricity in Armenia, and this decision will take effect on August 1. The decision, however, is expected to be followed by an increase in the prices of numerous products and services in the country.