Passions over gas price increase continue
The Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia today failed to convene its working sitting to discuss the new tariffs for natural gas and electricity.
Before the start of the sitting members of an initiative group protesting against the increased tariffs staged a protest outside the PSRC building. The group was not allowed in as the hall was small and could not seat everyone interested in the public debate.
Hardly had the discussion started when it was interrupted because of the turmoil in the hall.
Shiraz Kirakosyan, Deputy Chairman of PSRC, said that 3.5 million people might express a desire to attend the PSRC sitting but they cannot find room for all attendees.
"Conditions in Vardashen's sovkhoz (state farm) are much better than in this hall, which does not even have loudspeakers and air conditioners," said Andreas Ghukasyan, a member of the civil initiative.
PSRC Chairman Robert Nazaryan hurried to reply the activist saying that they could simply provide a bigger hall. His words angered Arshak Sadoyan, a member of the Public Council, who said, "If you could provide us with a larger hall, why didn't you do it?"
Nazaryan told Sadoyan not to speak to him in that way.
The PSRC Chairman said the protest staged outside the building was nothing but a show. In reply, the activists present at the hall said they were not actors to stage shows.
As announced earlier, the new natural gas tariff will be set at 156 AMD per cubic meter, with 30-percent subsidy from the government. Electricity tariff is expected to increase by 27 percent, that is to say by 7-8 AMD from the current 30 AMD per kilowatt.
