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Opposition “Yelq” bloc carried out Friday a rally in Yerevan against price hike in response to recent increase in some goods, fuel, and gasoline prices. The rally started at the square next to Moscow Cinema House, where the leaders of the political bloc represented in the Parliament by 9 lawmakers, addressed the participants.

Member of the “Yelq” faction in parliament Aram Sargsyan told reporters that the organizers have envisaged scenarios both with high and low attendance of the protesters and will proceed with the protest strategy depending on the developments.

“There are no scenarios we are unable to address. It is understood the price rise will increasingly affect the population throughout the year with the public to be severely hit especially in March-April,” Sargsyan said, adding the number of protesters could sharply increase over the course of the developments.

Later, the rally participants marched through the central streets of the Armenian capital with chants “No to Price Rise” and calls to the residents to join the protest.
As one of the leaders of the bloc Nikol Pashinyan announced, the next rallied will take place on February 5.  

To note, earlier “Yelk” urged the government and political leadership to address the cause of the price hike which they believe is triggered by the enforcement of the country’s new tax code, effective from January 2018, that set higher excise duties on fuel, tobacco and alcohol.

Price hike of basic items of daily commodities such as flour, butter, meat, and vegetables as well as rise in fuel and gasoline prices were recorded over the past month in Armenia with experts believing the trend will inevitably affect other goods in commodity markets as well as the public transport and taxi fares.

Earlier, President Serzh Sargsyan held a consultative meeting with Cabinet members and NA leadership to discuss the price hike for some goods in the country and ways mitigating the consequences of rising prices. Following the President’s instruction, Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan announced an intention to hold parliamentary hearings over the increase of prices for individual goods scheduled on January