Opposition Parliamentarians Demand Release of those Detained at Electricity Protest

During a special parliamentary session, members spoke out against police operations during electricity protest in Yerevan.

During the June 23 special parliamentary session in Armenia, members of parliament took the podium at the National Assembly and spoke about the heavy-handed police reaction against peaceful demonstrators, who were protesting electricity rate hikes in the country.

Opposition members were demanding from NA President Galust Sahakyan of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia to initiate measures to ensure the swift release of those citizens who have been detained.

Armenian National Congress parliamentarian Aram Manukyan and Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the fact that as a result of measures undertaken by security forces, journalists were injured during the melee and their equipment confiscated and damaged.

Hovhannes Margaryan of the Country of Law Party demanded from Galust Sahakyan to immediately claw back the decision to increase electricity rate hikes unanimously approved by the country’s Public Services Regulatory Commission.

During the session, an argument broke out between Member of Parliament for the Heritage Party Rubik Hakobyan and Galust Sahakyan, who accused the Heritage member of violating the rules and regulations of parliament and threatened to deprive him of his right to speak.

Aghvan Vardanyan, member of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun faction requested a 20-minute recess in order to calm the situation down. He requested that the President of the National Assembly meet with the leaders of factions represented in parliament to decide their future actions.

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On June 17, upon the request of the Russian-managed Armenian Electric Networks company, Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission unanimously approved increasing electricity rates by 7AMD/kWh or by 10 percent. During that meeting, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Youth Federation and the Nikol Aghbalyan Student’s Union staged a loud protest. Demonstrators threw eggs and tomatoes in the direction of the building. Several protesters were detained and later released.

On June 19, a large protest rally was held at Yerevan’s Liberty Square where thousands came out to protest the hikes. Organizers decided to stage a three-day sit-in and issued an ultimatum to authorities that if their demands were not met in three days (June 22 at 19:00), they would take their protest to Baghramyan 26, the Presidential Palace.

On the evening of June 22, protesters began marching toward the Presidential Palace although they were warned by Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan that their rally was illegal. When protesters reached Baghramyan Avenue, they were met by riot police who had blocked the road. Water canons were positioned behind the line of security forces.

Unable to advance along the road, protesters began yet another sit-in. They were informed by Armenia’s police that President Serzh Sargsyan was prepared to meet a delegation representing the demonstrators - this offer was rejected.

After several tense hours, in the early morning hours of June 23, special police forces, with the aid of water canons, began advancing on the protesters. Dozens of civilian police began dragging protesters away from the scene.

Dozens of citizens and journalists were injured during the police operation and currently 237 people are being detained in several police stations in the capital.