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A rally is underway on Bagramian Avenue in downtown Yerevan to protest against a rise in electricity tariffs in Armenia. Deputy Chief of Armenian Police Human Poghosyan suggested that participants continue their rally in Liberty square, but they refused.

The activists stressed they intend to remain until their demand is met: the decision on a power price increase is cancelled. Armenian law enforcers earlier gave rally participants until 10 am to leave the central Bagramian Avenue in Yerevan.

Yerevan Police Chief Ashot Karapetyan said the police will wait until 10 am and then take action to resume traffic in Bagramian Avenue. He did not specify what actions he meant. Karapetyan also said that Armenian law enforcement agencies hope that National Assembly deputies will mediate to help vacate Bagramian Avenue occupied by protesters.

Wednesday night, June 24, was quiet in Yerevan. Former and current MPs, intellectuals, representatives of the clergy and show business, lawyers and reporters spent the night together with protesters on Bagramian Avenue. They formed a live shield between police and demonstrators. This morning new policemen took place of their colleagues who maintained public order on Bagramian Avenue at night.

On the evening of June 23 the police cordoned off the area preventing access of march participants to the presidential palace at 26 Bagramian Avenue. The march was staged by ‘No to Robbery’ civic initiative. Deputy Chief of Armenian Police Hunan Poghosyan told rally participants that the police would not use force if the rally was peaceful, and provokers did not throw stones and use offensive language. He urged protesters to keep away from provokers who use foul language and throw various objects at law enforcers. H. Poghosyan assured those present once again that all detained persons were released and no one will be criminally prosecuted.