Wednesday, July 1 2015 10:45

 Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Galust Sahakyan has issued a statement on the protests against the electricity price hike in the country. 

The parliament press-office has published the statement: "It is already about ten days thousands of young citizens have taken protest actions against electricity price hike in the centre of the capital. Protest actions also took place in other places of the republic.  Notwithstanding management complexities the assemblies of "No To Plunder" initiative are peaceful and law-abiding by now.

Highly appreciating the posture and the positions of this new generation of independence, the guarantee of our country's future strength, who have come up with the slogan "Free, Independent Armenia," I record:  30.06.2015

1. the struggle for the rights by the civil society is an effective mechanism for the establishment of democracy and supervision over the authorities by the public, 2.  only through dialogue and interaction between the society and state institutions it is possible to reach the solution of the existing problems and the strengthening of the bases of our statehood, 3.  it is necessary to implement a complete examination and prosecute the perpetrators of possible excessive use of force by the police towards the protesters and journalists in the morning of June 23, 4.  by the June 27 Statement of the President of the Republic in fact the electricity price hike was suspended, not leaving that burden on the shoulders of the population till the results of the international complete audit to be held with the participation of the civil and expert society.  5.  every effort and provocation aimed at turning the dignified struggle of the Armenian citizens, the peaceful assemblies pursuing concrete task into goals contradicting our national- state interests incited by different forces are extremely dangerous, 6.  the blocking and paralyzing the busiest centre of the capital, Baghramyan Avenue, for a lasting period cannot be the only means of struggle.  

Stemming from all these statements, I urge the members of "No To Plunder" initiative to remain within the limits of legality, exclude any uncontrollable and unpredictable development of the situation, transform the struggle onto more rational platform of dialogue and cooperation, mitigate the atmosphere of general distrust with steps of compromise, jointly find solutions for the social-economic and systemic problems the country faces, proving the viability and truth of the slogan "We are the Owners of Our Country."