The rise in the electric power tariffs in Armenia will spark public discontent, Vahan Babayan, Spokesman for the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), said at a press conference in Yerevan on May 6.
"Under such hard socio-economic conditions, the rise in the tariffs may spark a revolt," he said. He added that the tariff growth may have rather serious reasons, including the interrelation of the economies of Armenia and Russia, which is suffering sanctions imposed by a number of countries.
Babayan also commented on the law that imposes taxes on the Armenian labor migrants abroad. He said if this law fosters Armenia's economic growth, the PAP unambiguously welcomes it.
The electric power tariffs are expected to rise on 1 July 2015. By the preliminary data, the new day-time tariff per 1 KW/h will be 48 AMD, and the night-time tariff will be 38 AMD. To recall, on 1 August 2014, new electric power tariffs were introduced in Armenia: the day-time tariff (7 am-11 pm) was fixed at 41.85 AMD per 1 KW/h versus the previous 38 AMD, and the night-time tariff (11 pm-7 am) was fixed at 31.85 AMD per 1 KW/h versus 28 AMD.