#ElectricYerevan: Armenian protests take new forms

Activists of the “No to Robbery” protest called on all residents of Armenia to turn off the electricity for an hour a day. As a sign of protest, it is proposed to turn off all electrical appliances from 21 to 22 hours local time.

“Join the fight from home” - such leaflets are distributed by the participants of the action on Marshal Baghramyan Avenue to passers-by. In them, residents of Yerevan are encouraged to go out onto their balconies to make noise using household utensils.

Organizers of protest rallies believe that if the lights are turned off for an hour every day, this will cause significant damage to the Electric Networks of Armenia company.

“Let this be your sign to the protesters that we are together! In the 90s we were left without light, but we overcame this with the light of souls and unity. Dear fireflies, let’s unite once and for all to get rid of darkness with the light of souls,” the organizers concluded.

Recall, today it became known that the Armenian authorities made the first concessions to the protesters. Republic Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan stated that the government will provide compensation to the unsecured segments of the population due to the increase in tariffs.

The State Commission for Regulation of Public Services of Armenia established new electricity tariffs for 17 June. According to the decision of the commission, from August 1 the fee is increased by 6,93 dram (about 0,015 dollars) to 48,78 drams (about 0,1 dollars) per kilowatt-hour.

The authorities explained such measures by currency fluctuations.