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Everything possible was done to ensure a minimum rise in power tariffs, which was due to objective reasons, Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artyom Asatryan told reporters today after the government session as he spoke about the ongoing sit-in in downtown Yerevan against the rise in electricity tariffs.

“Society should understand those objective realities that formed the basis of the decision on tariff rise,” the minister said.

He did not share the opinion that a format could have been found to avoid the tariff hike, but this was not done.

“I can assure you that the government, all the appropriate state bodies took all necessary measures to prevent a rise in tariffs. We need to understand that the tariff was set objectively. A relevant decision was taken, and we all should trust the appropriate bodies that submitted the calculations, according to which there are no subjective reasons underlying the power price hike,” he said.

When asked if the Armenian government shifts an additional burden on other citizens by compensating socially vulnerable families for the power tariff rise, Asatryan replied that it is the task of the whole society to help socially vulnerable families.

In his words, reforms in the social policy should be in line with the socioeconomic situation in Armenia and the available opportunities.
A sit-in against the power tariff rise is underway on Bagramian Avenue in central Yerevan. Demonstrators stress that the rallies they have staged since June 19 are social by nature. They demand that the head of state revoke the decision by Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission of June 17 to raise the electricity tariffs by 6.93 drams.