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 A sit-in against a rise in electricity tariffs continues on Bagramian Avenue in downtown Yerevan. Although the number of participants is increasing, the situation remains calm. Protesters continue singing and dancing. They make only one demand – revoking the decision on the rise in power tariffs. There are no police cordons.

Rallies are being held in some other cities as well, and a procession of cars will arrive from Charentsavan to join demonstrators in the capital city, said Vaghinak Shushanyan, member of ‘No to Robbery’ civic initiative’s coordinating group. He stressed they are not going to provide the platform to any political force: it is a social protest and the participation of politicians may result in the loss of resources.
As was reported, 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. The decision led to non-stop protests organized by ‘No to Robbery’ civic initiative. Protesters demand that the head of state revoke the Commission’s decision, which at the same time also does not suit the management of ENA – a daughter company of Russia’s RAO UES. Protesters stress that their rallies are social by nature.