Coalition of the Armenian NGOs with Consultative Status to the UN ECOSOC (CANCS)
STATEMENT
On the lawfulness of the spontaneous civil protests against the electricity price hike
Condemning the disproportionate use of force applied by the Police on Baghramyan avenue and the Liberty Square in Yerevan on 23 June 2015 and the constant threats and warnings on the supposedly illegal nature of peaceful protests, the Coalition of the Armenian NGOs with Consultative Status to the UN ECOSOC (CANCS) announces that the spontaneous civil rallies:
– Are totally lawful and correspond to the 1st and 2nd Articles of the RA Constitution on the Republic of Armenia being a social state governed by the rule of law and that the power belongs to people; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights third paragraph on the right to rebellion against any oppression, Article 20 (right to freedom of assembly and association), Article 25 (right to a standard of living); Article 11 (right to freedom of assembly) of the European Charter of Human Rights and the fundamental principles of law.
– Are completely fair and right, as they constitute an honest outbreak against the unprecedented abuses in the Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC, which have found large coverage in the media recently;
The Coalition calls upon:
– the Public Services Regulatory Commission to immediately denounce the decision on the rise of electricity prices;
– the RA Prosecutor General to initiate a criminal case to reveal legal offenses in the field of energy consumption and to strictly and fairly keep those guilty accountable, as well as to restore the damage caused to the republic;
– all the intellectuals, workers, clergy, state servicemen, local self government and community council representatives to actively support the just civic movement.
Coalition of the Armenian NGOs with Consultative Status to the UN ECOSOC (CANCS):
Association for “Sustainable Human Development”, President Karine Danielyan
Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Centre, President Gevork Manoukian
Centre for Development of Civil Society, President Svetlana Aslanyan
Armenian Young Lawyers` Association, President Karen Zadoyan
26 June, 2015
Yerevan
