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On his Facebook and Twitter accounts, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks posted a statement on the events that took place early June 23 on Bagramian Avenue in Yerevan.

“The information I have received about instances of violence against journalists, their detention and damaging their equipment is also very disturbing. The media should be able to work in a safe and free environment. I call on the Armenian authorities to respect their international human rights obligations, in particular with regard to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and to look into possible cases of abuse committed by the law enforcement forces during dispersal and detention,” he wrote in particular.

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. On June 19 the civic initiative ‘No to Robbery’ staged a rally in Yerevan against the power tariff hike. The activists later decided to hold a 3-day sit-in in Yerevan’s Liberty Square. Late Monday, June 22 the rally participants staged a march to the presidential residence at 26 Bagramian Ave.

On Tuesday morning, June 23, the police used water cannons to disperse demonstrators who blocked the central Bagramian Avenue in Yerevan to protest a rise in electricity tariffs. Prior to that, 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. 25 people sought emergency first aid, the press service of Health Ministry reported. Following the events on Bagramian Street, the Office of Armenian Prosecutor General opened a criminal case under the article ‘hooliganism’.