Protests against a hike in electricity rates (Armenia)
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| Protests against a hike in electricity rates | |||
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| Date | June 20, 2015–September 11, 2015 | ||
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Armenia: Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, and almost every major city and town |
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| Methods | demonstrations, sit-ins, hunger strike,[1] online activism, civil disobedience | ||
| Result | The monopolist electric distribution company is sold to a new investor. Latest price hike postponed. | ||
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Electric Yerevan[2] more known within Armenia as No robbery protests,[3] were mass protests occurred in summer 2015 against a hike in electricity rates in Armenia.[4]
Background[edit]
Electric Yerevan had been preceded by previous smaller movements against price hikes on marshrutkas public transportation and a new mandatory pension savings system.[3] Then in June 2015, the Armenian Public Services Regulatory Committee (PSRC) increased the price of electricity for the public. The cost increased to 7 drams ($0.01 USD) per kilowatt hour, to be effective on August 1, 2015.
Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA, wich had been acquired by Russian Inter RAO UES in 2006)[3] holds an exclusive license to distribute electricity in Armenia, doing so at tariffs approved by Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission. ENA justified the latest price hike by pointing out its overall losses while blaming the Armenian government for having ignored the situation and not having carried out long due market reforms in the Armenian electricity sector.[3] In this regard, an audit of the company’s 2013 finances had showed losses of about $94 million, putting the company on the brink of bankruptcy.[3] Concurrently, a 2013 World Bank report stated that the power sector in Armenia was underfinanced and that even raising tariffs would not cover increasing costs.[3] On the other side, different media, international organizations and reports by RAO UES itself had mentioned corruption and mismanagement within ENA.[3] In this regard, it has been pointed out that the latest hike could be afforded by the middle class but the underlying reasons for protest actually stemmed from a sense of mistrust in the government due to the perceived corruption and mismanagement.[3]
Protests[edit]
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Protests began in June 2015, locally referred to as #ElectricYerevan,[5] Revolution of socket,[6] ElectroMaidan,[7] EnergoMaidan.[8] The latter two are a pun on Ukraine's Euromaidan in late 2013/early 2014. Protesters have stated that they do not wish to replicate Euromaidan and that they were angered by the suggestion in the Russian media that their protests are "a new Maidan".[9]
On 20–21 June 2015, in the "high-voltage rally", activists went on a sitting strike protesting against the price increase. At the end of the rally, a group of civil activists announced another sit-in in a central Yerevan square, which was attended by thousands of people.
On 22 June, the activists of the "high-voltage rally" marched to Baghramyan Avenue, towards the Presidential Palace and began a sit-in protest.
On 23 June, Police used water cannons on protesters. Later that same day, protesters went to Baghramyan Avenue and began a Sitdown strike.
On 27 June, protesters closed the Mashtots Avenue and Sayat-Nova Avenue intersection and the Place de France.
On 6 July, police disperses the sit-in which had returned to Freedom Square.[10]
On 16 July, Andreas Ghukasyan and others created the "Rise up, Armenia" movement.[11]
On 21 August, Rise up, Armenia members was apprehended during rally on Republic Square,[12] but several hours after Rise up, Armenia all apprehended members freed.[13]
On 1 September, "No to robbery" launches a rally in Lovers' Park. During the rally protesters comes to Republic Square, where had been Rise up, Armenias' organized sit-in participants.
On 4 September, Rise up, Armenia organized protest in Republic Square, with 40-day sit-in occasion. In protest also participanted Pre-Parliament members.
End of protests[edit]
An independent audit of ENA concluded that the electricity tariff increase was indeed due from a financial point of view.[3] Eventually, the government approved the sale of ENA from RAO UES to the Tashir Group, run by Samvel Karapetyan, a Russia-based Armenian billionaire who had retained close links with Armenia as a philanthropist and is a generally respected figure in Armenia.[3] The Armenian government then announced that they would jointly —together with the Tashir group— subsidize the hike until July 31, 2016.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ Դավիթ Սանասարյանը հացադուլ է հայտարարել (տեսանյութ), Davit' Sanasaryanë hats'adul ē haytararel (tesanyut')
- ^ Small Electric Yerevan Spark -- A Big Challenge for the Armenian Government
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shahnazarian, Nona (January 2016). "“Here Is Not Maidan, Here is Marshal Baghramian”: The “Electric Yerevan” Protest Movement and Its Consequences". PONARS Eurasia | Policy Memos. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ Armenia's 'Electric Yerevan' protests enter seventh day
- ^ #ElectricYerevan: протесты в Армении | Новое Время
- ^ Революция розеток — Политика — Новая Газета
- ^ Электромайдан: Почему тысячи армян вышли на улицы Еревана и не уходят уже несколько дней
- ^ Полиция разогнала «энергомайдан» в Ереване — Российская газета
- ^ Armenians dance at round-the-clock electricity protest, BBC News (29 June 2015)
'ElectricYerevan' Protesters Chafe At Comparisons To Ukraine's Euromaidan, Radio Free Europe (27 June 2015) - ^ Ոստիկանները հեռացրեցին ցուցարարներին, Բաղրամյանում երթևեկությունը վերականգնվեց
- ^ Ստեղծվել է «Ոտքի՛, Հայաստան» շարժման Խորհուրդ. Հայտարարություն
- ^ «Ոտքի՛, Հայաստան» նախաձեռնության անդամներ են բերման ենթարկվել
- ^ Անդրիաս Ղուկասյանը ազատ է արձակվել (ֆոտո)
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