\n\tHundreds of people protesting against the latest hike in electricity prices in Armenia took to the streets on September 11 blocking once again the central Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan. They held a rally at Yerevan’s Freedom Square earlier in the day before marching toward the presidential palace late Friday. \n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe protesters, however, were stopped by a police cordon and special equipment which had been lined up at the avenue in advance. Faced with a police wall and unable to move further toward the presidential residence, the people sat on the ground initiating a renewed sit-in protest. \n<\/p>\n
\n\tPolice periodically ordered the demonstrators through loudspeakers to leave the carriageway, warned about the “illegal nature of the protest action, the violation of the constitutional rights of other citizens” and threatened to use force in case of disobedience. In return, the protesters booed the law enforcement officers and reminded them of their duties – to protect the people’s right to peaceful protest.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe participants again stated the protest movement had no leaders and urged other citizens and journalists to join them since “a brutal dispersal can only be prevented by a fairly large number of people.”\n<\/p>\n
\n\tMaksim Sargsyan, member of “No to Plunder!” initiative, voiced their demand that authorities annul the decision of increasing the “already overpriced electricity tariffs.” He also added that Baghramyan Avenue had this time been blocked by police officers, while protesters had only intended to march through it toward the presidential palace. \n<\/p>\n