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Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly Galust Sahakyan will conduct today a discussion over the police dispersal on early June 23 of demonstrators who blocked Bagramian Avenue in central Yerevan to protest a rise in electricity prices.

The Armenian parliament continued today on June 23 the extraordinary session. The secretary of ARF-Dashnaktsutyun faction Aghvan Vardanyan suggested a discussion on the police actions on Bagramian Avenue.

“I am asking everyone – not only heads of factions, but also those who want to speak about the issue – to attend the discussion during the break,” G. Sahakyan said in response.

As was reported, on Tuesday morning, June 23, police dispersed demonstrators who blocked the central Bagramian Avenue in Yerevan to protest a rise in electricity tariffs. Prior to dispersal, the police told demonstrators to leave Bagramian Avenue and return to Liberty Square so that traffic could resume. Over 200 people, including reporters, were taken to police stations. Deputy of HAK parliamentary faction Nikol Pashinyan said on his Facebook page that a criminal case was opened under the article on hooliganism.
25 people sought medical aid: 8 were taken to Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center, 4 – to Erebuni Medical Center, one person – to Aramiants Medical Center, and two – to Heratsi University Hospital, according to press service of Armenian Health Ministry. 10 of them had minor injuries and scratches and were given first medical aid. 8 people are now at Surb Grigor Lusavorich Center and will be discharged soon. Two people were taken to Armenia Medical Center this morning. They are undergoing tests.

Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) Company earlier submitted a bid to the Public Services Regulatory Commission about a rise in electricity tariffs. The parliamentary opposition considers it unfounded and serving the interests of that company. The current night-time tariff for the population is 31.85 drams per one KWh, the daytime tariff is 41.85 drams. The bid of ENA proposed raising the tariffs to 48 and 58 drams respectively. Yet the Commission satisfied the bid of ENA only partially on June 17. The tariffs in Armenia will increase by 6.93 drams, and not by 17 drams.

The Commission’s decision will take force on August 1, 2015. On June 19 the civic initiative ‘No to Robbery’ staged a rally in Yerevan. The activists later decided to hold a 3-day sit-in in Yerevan’s Liberty Square.