Baku-APA. The ultimatum that protesters against utility hikes in the Armenian capital of Yerevan put forward to the government has expired on Monday at 9 p.m. local time, APA reports quoting sputniknews.
On Saturday, the protesters demanded authorities to reduce electricity tariffs and punish those police officers, who dispersed the rally on June 23, detaining hundreds and injuring dozens.
Otherwise, they warned to start a "Step Forward" campaign – a pledge to "move the barricade one meter closer to the presidential administration every day." The police warned in advance they would not allow demonstrators to go forward with the idea.
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As of Monday evening, some 300 to 500 activists gathered in downtown Yerevan's Liberty Square, less than a mile from the site of mass demonstrations and detentions earlier.
"We will continue our fight and we will return to Baghramyan Avenue," one of the rally organizers, Davit Sanasaryan, told supporters. Sanasaryan said he would go on a hunger strike as a sign of protest.
Traffic on Baghramyan Avenue, blocked by demonstrators for two weeks, was restored earlier on Monday. The entire street in downtown Yerevan is lined with paddy wagons, armored vehicles, water cannons and barbed wire fence stretchers.
Authorities detained 46 demonstrators, but released them within three hours. One of the participants, civil rights activist Argishti Kiviryan, has been charged with the administrative offense of disobeying police orders.
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