ANC activists angered by new gas prices
Some 30 activists of the opposition Armenian National Congress again gathered outside the Prosecutor's Office demanding the release of detained ANC activist Tigran Arakelyan who was taken into custody after an August 2011 standoff with police in a Yerevan park.
ANC Deputy Chairman Aram Manukyan stressed in his speech that they also protest against the rise in natural gas prices.
"Serious public deception was disclosed yesterday. Several months ago everyone was speaking about the expected hike in gas prices, with the government strongly denying the reports. Yesterday it became known that starting April 1 consumers in Armenia will have to pay for gas by the new tariffs," he said.
Aram Manukyan is convinced that the agreement with the Russian side was updated before April 1, that is, before the presidential and municipal elections in Armenia.
"Our government officials concealed the fact for fear that people would not vote for them if they knew about the hike in the natural gas tariff and electricity before the elections," said Manukyan.
"If the new gas prices will take effect from June, who will pay for the period between April and June?" the ANC member said.
