Levon Zurabyan: Government will retreat if 10 000 people take to the street against rise in electricity prices (video)
The rise in electricity tariffs only aims to settle the 250mln dollar debt accumulated by the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), says opposition lawmaker Levon Zurabyan. By raising electricity prices, the authorities show that they do not intend to disclose the abuses taking place in the ENA, rather, they continue robbing people. “This means in the future they will accumulate new debts and will again decide to raise electricity tariffs to pay the debt. This may happen in a year or two,” said the lawmaker. The opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) is going to raise the issue of possible rise in electricity prices in the special sitting of the Nationally Assembly. The party is going to collect signatures of 44 MPs in order to invite a special session. “I am not sure whether we shall succeed or not but at least we can try. If we fail, we shall take other actions,” said Levon Zurabyan who heads HAK faction in parliament. The HAK is even ready to start a series of protests for people to be able to express their disagreement with the new tariffs. “Last time when they [authorities] decided to raise electricity rates we gathered about 2000 people. The failure to prevent the price rise can also be blamed on the indifference of our citizens,” said Mr Zurabyan. “Only people can prevent the rise in electricity prices,” the MP stressed adding that the government will retreat after meeting persistent pressure. “Once they retreat, they will do it again. Authorities will rob people as long as people allow them to do it, as long as people do not show resistance. But they will retreat if 10000 people take to the street.” Earlier this week the Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC applied to the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) with a request to raise electricity tariffs in Armenia by more than 40 percent. The PSRC is to discuss the application of the Electric Networks of Armenia within 90 days and decide how much the electricity prices will be increased. On Thursday evening a number of civil activists gathered at Liberty Square in Yerevan for a “public discussion” and protest against the planned increase in energy tariffs.Participants in the rally said it was another ‘whim’ of the authorities.
