One year after Baghramyan struggle: what we have today (video)
One year ago on June 23 in the morning Yerevan woke up by the news about acts of violence by the police. The police used force against the citizens protesting against electricity price rise by 7 drams.
Not only ordinary citizens received injuries as a result of the police actions, but also the work of the journalists was hindered.
The plan of the police to clear Baghramyan Avenue by using force had the opposite result. On the same evening thousands of citizens gathered on Baghramyan Avenue already not only protesting against electricity price hike but also demanding to punish the authors of the violence.
On June 23 in order not to allow repetition of the violence a wall comprised of the political figures and intellectuals was formed between the protesters and the police. Some political figures weren’t welcomed by the protesters.
Baghramyan Avenue became one of the favorite places for evening walk for Yerevan residents. The evenings were accompanied by music performances.
Serzh Sargsyan’s statement on holding audit in order to find out the bases for the electricity price hike on June 27 was decisive for Electric Yerevan.
One part of members of “No to plunder” initiative declared their satisfaction of the decision on holding audit and transferring the protest action into the territory of Opera.
Those, who didn’t go to Liberty Square with them, stayed on Baghramyan Avenue for one more week, and the number of protesters gradually decreased and the police restored traffic on the avenue.
The demand of the Baghramyan protesters to cancel the PSRC decision on increasing electricity price remained unfulfilled. Day tariff of electricity remained AMD 49 and night tariff- AMD 42.
Though, the struggle of Electric Yerevan had its impact on the Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC. The owner of the ENA changed and Tashir Group company acquired it.
By the way, the issue of decreasing electricity price is being discussed during these days. The decrease of electricity price by 4 drams will be discussed by the Public Services Regulatory Commission on June 24.
Though, it isn’t excluded that there will be no price fall for those, who make use of subsidies, as it isn’t known yet whether that privilege will remain or not after new decision.
