The Yerevan Police ended the protests that went on for the past few weeks in the streets of Yerevan. The police had warned the protesters that the security forces will not allow for them to move any further after the protesters gave the authorities the ultimatum to comply with their demands by 9pm this Monday, or the protest would start moving its barricades towards the presidential palace one step at a time every day. They were demanding the reversal of a decision by Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission to approve the third price increase in three years for power supplied by the Russian-owned Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA). They were also asking for the company to be audited, alleging corruption and mismanagement within its ranks. Since the police violently dispersed the protest earlier on 23 June, they were also calling for an investigation into the violence used against demonstrators and journalists. The police did not use batons and a water cannon or attack reporters in sharp contrast with their violent crackdown on a larger number of mostly young protesters who first occupied the street leading to the presidential palace in Yerevan on June 22-23. Ashot Aharonian, the chief police spokesman, praised the crowd for not putting up strong resistance to security forces. He said none of the detained individuals will be prosecuted or fined.
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