Armenia’s leading opposition parties on Wednesday pledged to retaliate against the government’s decision to raise electricity prices with “adequate” joint actions.
“If the authorities are using this summer political pause to impose such decisions on the people, then I think the quartet will give an adequate answer this autumn,” said Ruben Hakobian of the Zharangutyun (Heritage).
Hakobian spoke at a joint news conference with fellow parliamentary leaders of the three other parties held the day after the Public Service Regulatory Commission (PSRC) formally allowed a 10 percent rise in the energy tariff for households. They condemned the measure, saying that the PSRC failed to substantiate it.
Aram Manukian, a senior lawmaker from the Armenian National Congress (HAK), said consumers are unjustly forced to pay for massive losses posted by the national power distribution company owned by a Russian energy giant. He claimed that the company is being mismanaged despite making “huge profits.”
The opposition representatives did not elaborate on anti-government actions planned by their parties. The latter issued a list of 12 mostly socioeconomic demands to the Armenian authorities in early June.
The opposition quartet gave authorities until the end of September to meet these demands. It said it will rally supporters in Yerevan this fall to discuss the government response and decide on “further joint actions.”