"Rise Up Armenia" civil movement has disseminated statement wherein it announces that it will demand resignation of the president and prime minister in the course of its August 11 rally in the Republic Square, if it is joined by enough number of people to occupy the entire Square.
"The head of the Republican Party of Armenia and his team have seized power in Armenia and not only have proved unable to carry out any reforms, but also create obstacles to any positive changes," the movement says and urge people to join them on August 11.
"Rise Up Armenia" has been on a sitting strike in the Republic Square since July 27 opposing the rising electricity price in Armenia.
To note, on June 17 the Public Services Regulatory Commission took a decision to the electric power tariffs by 6.93 AMD starting from August 1. As a result, the daytime tariff for the ultimate consumers will rise from the current 41.85 AMD per 1kWh to 48.78 AMD, and the nighttime tariff will grow from 31.85 AMD to 38.78 AMD per 1 kWh (including VAT). ENA CJSC had insisted on 17 AMD rise in the tariffs because of the company's debts. This decision has sparked public protests in the country. The decision even angered the political and public organizations and the opposition forces of Armenia that blame ENA for mismanagement. The Company, in turn, does not guarantee uninterrupted power supply to the country, unless the power rate is increased by 17 AMD. On June 27, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that the Armenian Government would assume the burden of the raised tariffs until the ENA audit was over. He also said that the ENA might be nationalized. For his part, David Harutyunyan, Minister-Head of the Armenian Government Administration, said that the audit at the ENA might last for 3-6 months. ENA's total debt is about 150 bln AMD.