The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Armenia must pay approximately €6,000 in compensation to journalist Hovhannes Ishkhanyan. He announced on his Facebook page that he will express his stance on the ruling regarding his case on February 25.
Ishkhanyan noted that the decision pertains to the violation of his right to freedom and assembly during the 2015 Electric Yerevan protests.
"My statement is connected to Armenia's authoritarian shift, the surrender of Artsakh, and the politically motivated trials of Armenian democratic figures in Baku. It will be published on social media and shared with the media, in English with Armenian subtitles. February 25 is also the birthday of human rights activist Avetik Ishkhanyan," Ishkhanyan wrote.
In the case of Ishkhanyan v. Armenia, the ECHR found that Ishkhanyan’s seven-hour detention at a police station, during which he was kept in wet clothing and denied rest, amounted to a deprivation of liberty. The court also determined that there were no legal grounds for his arrest.
On May 8, 2015, the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) applied to the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) to increase electricity tariffs by 17 drams per kWh. On June 17, the commission decided to raise the tariff by 6.93 drams starting August 1.
On June 19, 2015, the "No to Plunder" civic initiative began protests in Yerevan’s Freedom Square, demanding the annulment of the PSRC’s decision. Protesters gave the authorities 72 hours to suspend the decision.
