Protesters do not exclude social upheaval in Armenia
About two dozen people today gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Yerevan, protesting against the pending increase in the cost of Russian natural gas imported to Armenia.
"Let's prevent the hike in natural gas tariffs" initiative group had brought with them a letter addressed to Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin. In the letter, the group said that ‘the hike in gas prices would increase the cost of public utilities and staples. By increasing the gas prices GasProm seeks to have annually $150 million in revenue. Our patience also has limits.'
The authors of the letter do not rule out the possibility of a social upheaval and say the issue can be easily tacked at this stage if the Russian side agrees not to increase the gas prices.
No one from the Embassy showed up to meet the protesters. They left the letter in the mailbox and left the area.
At the beginning of the action an incident broke out between the group and police officers who demanded that the protesters open the entrance to the embassy building and stand on the opposite pavement. After a short argument, the participants obeyed the instruction.
