June 23-24 : LIVE Updates from Electricity Protest in Yerevan

Civilnet
Article Published: 24 Jun, 2015 00:00
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CivilNet presents a live update of developments taking place now with the electricity rate hike protest in Armenia.

June 24

20:57Protest organizer Maxim Sargsyan talks about reports circulating that Serzh Sargsyan might issue a statement. He says that police might begin to use force and calls on everyone to stay put.

20:55Vaghinak Shushanyan calls on protesters to remove provocateurs from their ranks. He says that their protest is a peaceful one.

20:52

Deputy Police Chief Hunan Poghosyan says that today’s police force is not like the police force of 10 years ago.

20:23

Police say that they have found batons, iron pipes, and stones on one of the side streets off Baghramyan Avenue. Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan says police will investigate.

20:17

One of the organizers of the protest, Maxim Sargsyan said that all those who had been detained two days ago after violent clashes between police and demonstrators have been released.

20:10

CivilNet’s reporter says that sources near the ruling Republican Party of Armenia have said that President Serzh Sargsyan will be coming out with an announcement shortly about the electricity rate hike issue.

19:15

CivilNet’s reporter on the ground says that residents are bringing food and water to protesters. Numbers begin to swell as #ElectricYerevan enters 5th day of protests.

18:00

Watch www.civilnet.am/live for a live coverage of the electricity protest

17:42

Reporters Without Borders, an international freedom of expression and freedom of information organization, issued a statement condemning police violence against journalists during the electricity protests in Yerevan yesterday.

According to the organization, the police attacked at least 10 journalists and “almost systematically confiscated or smashed their equipment.” The organization also estimates that at least 11 journalists were detained briefly.

“We are shocked by the use of such disproportionate force against journalists who were just doing their work,” said Johann Bihr, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

17:00

Sanitek garbage collection company asks protesters to return the garbage bins that are being used to build barricades, saying that they are running out of bins for garbage collection purposes in the city. After negotiations, the citizens agreed to return 20 garbage bins which were used to build barricades in the surrounding streets. The bins forming the main barricade on Baghramyan Avenue will not be returned.

15:46

Jailed actor Vardan Petrosyan declares hunger strike in solidarity with #ElectricYerevan protesters. “I am not there physically, but in this way I can express my solidarity with all those participating in the protest,” Petrosyan told Hetq.

15:20

Protesters are bringing in new garbage bins to strengthen the barricade.

15:15

Citizens are set to gather in Freedom Square at 18:00 where they will be joined by participants of a car rally which will take place at 18:30 in Charentsavan. The protesters will then march onto Baghramyan Avenue.

14:30

Organizers tell crowds that thousands of Armenian-Americans have staged a protest at the Armenian consulate in Los Angeles in support of #ElectricYerevan; protests were also held in several cities in France and Germany. The citizens of Aragatsotn Marz are preparing to protest tonight at 18:00 and they might then come and join the protest in Yerevan.

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14:00

To protect demonstrators from the heat, large umbrellas have been brought in. The smell from the garbage bins, being used as a barricade has forced organizers to push back demonstrators.

13:21

Police blockade has been removed and replaced by metal fences. The protest on Baghramyan Avenue continues into the afternoon hours.

13:05

Tweet for #ElectricYerevan of Armenian soldiers holding a sign “We are not protecting the borders so you can cheat us.”

12:03 Protests continue on Baghramyan Avenue with a few hundred people. Police conducting checks in the garbage bins for stones and other potentially dangerous tools that could be used to provoke violence. Yerevan Deputy Chief of Police Valeri Osipyan tells reporters that police is doing its job and looking out for citizen’s safety. 10:08 Protesters dancing the Armenian Kochari on Baghramyan. City’s traffic paralyzed. The temperature is heating up. Riot Police are changing shifts now. 09:38 Protesters bring in sound equipment — speakers, microphones — as police watch. Negotiations have been underway to move the sit-in back to Liberty Square but the demonstrators at the #ElectricYerevan protest are not budging. 09:18 The protest continued throughout the night. Demonstrators had fashioned a barricade out of garbage bins. Members of Parliament, celebrities, intellectuals and others came to form a human shield between riot police and protesters. The night has passed calmly.

01:43 MPs from different political parties still trying to form human barricade. MP Heghine Bisharyan giving advice to protesters, including the taxi driver who made headlines last month during a protest staged by cab drivers for his unique take on the country’s situation. 01:15 Members of Parliament representing different political factions have arrived to form a human barricade to avoid any violence. Parliamentarians Nikol Pashinyan, Tevan Poghosyan, Aghvan Vardanyan, Zaruhi Postanjyan, Alik Arzumanyan, and others are at the electricity protest now. Two members of the ruling Republican Party Armen Ashotyan and Samvel Farmanyan have also arrived but have been received by an angry crowd, swearing and telling them to leave. Police are trying to move Ashotyan behind police lines. 00:55 Aram MP3 and Vache of the popular comedy shot Vitamin Club have arrived at the electricity protest on Baghramyan Avenue. A delegation of Members of Parliament from different parliamentary factions are expected any minute. 00:23 Alen Simonyan of Civic Initiative says that in about 40 minutes a group of MPs, intellectuals, celebrities and others will come to the protest to form a human barricade between police and demonstrators. June 23 23:08 Protesters discussing possibility of meeting with country’s president. They have asked for 10 representatives, 15 journalists and a live stream of the meeting. Will verify decision as soon as it is made.

22:55

After a discussion with Deputy Police Chief Hunan Poghosyan, one of the participants of the demonstration said that they had come to an agreement that neither the protesters, nor the police would move forward. Conditions for meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan are being discussed.

22:44 Into the third hour of the electricity protest, demonstrators and police continue to stand a few meters away from one another. Earlier, police asked reporters to clear the area and open a corridor because they were apparently obstructing their work. 21:35 Protesters drag large garbage bins into the street, is it the beginning of a barricade?

21:25 Both protesters and security forces are meters apart, both sides dug in, unclear who will make the first move. Protesters continue chanting, whistling and clapping.

20:31

Demonstrators are discussing their next steps. Police have barricaded Baghramyan Avenue. Thousands of protesters continue chanting and singing.

20:20 Most of those detained earlier today have been released. Valeri Osipyan says that police are commissioned with maintaining order.

20:10

Protesters on Baghramyan Avenue, chanting “We Are the Owners of Our Country.” Riot police banging their truncheons on their shields, protesters and riot police meters apart. Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan negotiating with protesters, telling them that they are violating the law.

19:49

Thousands of demonstrators in Liberty Square have decided to walk toward the Presidential Palace on Baghramyan 26.

19:43

Dirk Lorenz, Acting Head of the EU Delegation in Armenia has issued the following statement: “We have followed closely the recent clashes between protestors and police in Armenia in the context of major discontent over the increase of the electricity price. Reports about excessive use of force against a peaceful rally, as well as on violence directed against journalists are alarming. It is important to ensure an impartial investigation of these events and to immediately release the detained peaceful protestors. A genuine dialogue between authorities and the civil society is the only way to overcome tough and unpopular economic decisions.”

19:19

There was commotion on the platform at Liberty Square. When one of the participants at the demonstration asked Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan if he thought that there was excessive use of force by police, that police officers were swearing at protesters, a young woman approached Osipyan, removed his cap and spit in his face. Osipyan ordered that the young woman be arrested, but other protesters are trying to prevent her from being taken away.

18:59

Leader of the Hayazn Party, Armen Mkrchyan announces that the majority of the 237 detained citizens have been charged with hooliganism.

18:48

At the corner of Mashtots Avenue and France Square, demonstrators can’t decide whether to continue marching toward Baghramyan 26 or return to Liberty Square. They decide to return to the square.

18:35

Demonstrators announce that their issue is with Baghramyan 26. Some of the demonstrators remain behind in Liberty Square, others start marching toward Baghramyan 26, the Presidential Palace.

18:20

CivilNet asked Deputy Police Chief of Yerevan, Valeri Osipyan whether he believed that police actions in the early morning hours of June 23 were warranted. Osipyan said that if there was proof that heavy-handed force was used then “you can apply to the appropriate bodies.” Asked whether media organizations would be reimbursed for their damaged equipment, Osipyan said he didn’t know.

18:00

The demonstration in Yerevan’s Liberty Square protesting electricity rate hikes begins.

*****

Citizens launched a three-day sit-in on June 19 at Liberty Square following a decision by the the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) to increase electricity tariffs by approximately 7AMD/kWh on June 17.

On the evening of June 22, after their demands were not met, the protesters marched to the Presidential Palace located on Baghramyan Avenue.

They were warned by Yerevan’s Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan that their march was illegal and that they would be met by police resistance. Not heeding the Police Chief’s admonitions, the demonstrators began walking toward the Presidential Palace where they were met with riot police who had blocked Baghramyan.

Security forces were out in full force along with water canons and other machinery. Faced with the heavy police presence, organizers of the protest decided to continue their sit-in on Baghramyan Avenue.

The mass protest lasted till early morning when riot police began moving towards the crowd using water cannons and batons to disperse protesters. It appears that 237 people are currently being detained in different police stations throughout the city.

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