Coordinators state political character of protests in Yerevan

The movement against the increase of electricity tariff in Armenia is political, the coordinators of the action believe. However, some of the protesters treat their action as social and unite into groups to protect demonstrators from the influence of political ideologies.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after the decision was announced to increase the electricity tariff, Armenia has been hosting mass protests. The largest action took place on the round-the-clock basis in Yerevan, in Bagramyan Avenue, but on July 6 the police dispersed the protesters. On the same day, a new protest action was launched in Freedom Square; and the police did not allow its participants to march through the city centre.

Gagik Egiazaryan, a member of the coordination group, reminded that at the beginning of the protest action the initiative group "No to robbery!" stated that "if until June 22, the authorities fail to satisfy their demands, protesters would demand resignation of the president and prime minister." "This suggests that the movement was political from the very start, because on the basis of a social issue, one can't demand resignation of the government," Gagik Egiazaryan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

David Sanasaryan, another member of the coordination group, agrees that the launched struggle is political. "Someone wants to politicize it; somebody doesn't want, but this issue remains unchanged," said Sanasaryan, reminding that protesters put forward their demands to the authorities.

At the same time, the members of the group "Commandos", formed by permanent members of the protest movement and not adjacent to any political party or force, have volunteered to protect activists from attempts of political influence.

"We don't want to be cheated and deceived," Rafael Avetisyan, a member of the "Commandos", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, members of his group are fighting exclusively against the increase of electricity tariff, not for interests of certain political forces.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.