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The police plan to seize trash containers that served as barricades for demonstrators protesting on Bagramian Avenue in central Yerevan against a rise in power tariffs. A criminal case was opened based on a complaint filed by Sanitek Company, the owner of that property. A relevant unit of the Investigative Department of Armenian Police opened the case under Article 185 part 1 point 3 (deliberate damage or destruction of property).

As was reported, Deputy Chief of Yerevan Police Valery Osipyan earlier urged rally participants not to obstruct investigative actions, but protesters refused to obey. They prevent the police from removing trash containers.

Yesterday, on June 28 demonstrators against the power tariff hike divided into two groups after blocking Bagramian Avenue in central Yerevan for over a week. The presidential residence, the Armenian parliament, Constitutional Court and several embassies are located on that avenue. Following the statement made by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on June 27, the organizers of the rally attended by thousands – members of ‘No to Robbery’ civil initiative called on protesters to leave the avenue and return to Liberty Square nearby. Yet some of the demonstrators refused to leave. Police warned several times that they plan to open the street so that normal traffic could resume.