Armenia: #ElectricYerevan protests

Moderator's Note

A new thread has been opened (see Post 21) and a number of posts from the main Ukraine thread refer to the protests, have been copied here, hence the first twenty posts coming first (ends).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

And who says there are not "other colored revolts brewing" in the rest of the areas controlled by Russia and Armenia is controlled by Russia.

Pic o the day. Defiance amid water cannons, arrests, broken cameras, phones https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Eh9im_XdZU&t=11335 … #Yerevan #Armenia pic.twitter.com/hp6Ri7oMJl

Putin is now advising #Armenia's president on how to turn a small protest into an uprising...:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqIMijLrSx8&t …

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youtube.com/watch?v=fliCzwAJxds … So what's RT's story? Nazi-CIA coup to steal #Armenia away fr #Russia,right into NATO?pic.twitter.com/wdNkf71A8S

Rally in #Yerevan: Police use water cannons against protesters (videos) http://belsat.eu/en/articles/rally-y...st-protesters/ … #Armenia pic.twitter.com/2PyJjxC9Bs

Mass Arrests in Armenian Capital Accompanied by Police Profanity and Harassment (Video) - http://www.epress.am/en/2015/06/23/m...ent-video.html …

Black humor about this demo using Russian propaganda terms----

The CIA raised electricity prices in Armenia as part of a fascist, anti-Russian plot to make people gay.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

youtube.com/watch?v=fliCzwAJxds … So what's RT's story? Nazi-CIA coup to steal #Armenia away fr #Russia,right into NATO?pic.twitter.com/wdNkf71A8S

Rally in #Yerevan: Police use water cannons against protesters (videos) http://belsat.eu/en/articles/rally-y...st-protesters/ … #Armenia pic.twitter.com/2PyJjxC9Bs

Mass Arrests in Armenian Capital Accompanied by Police Profanity and Harassment (Video) - http://www.epress.am/en/2015/06/23/m...ent-video.html …

Black humor about this demo using Russian propaganda terms----

The CIA raised electricity prices in Armenia as part of a fascist, anti-Russian plot to make people gay.

---

This is taking on a "Maidan" look and feel---

Happening now:after cruel dispersal in the morning today,ppl r on rally again in #Yerevan #Armenia, via @Ar_Avetisyan pic.twitter.com/Gw3YMicbLo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Seems the Armenian President has learned from the "Maidan"--he is now going to met with 10 reps from the demonstrators and journalists and live stream the meeting.

BUT at the same time the Russian propaganda Corp. "News Media" is putting out that the demonstrators will run and hide when the first shots are fired--there has been a rumor floating that the police will clear the demonstration with force this evening.

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Russia's Federation Council thinks events in Armenia are completely repeating first phase of coup in Ukraine.

Russia: 'Events in #Armenia repeat 1st phase of #Ukraine coup.' Ditto Budapest '56, Prague '68? #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/yTuxF8Di4V

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Russia's Federation Council thinks events in Armenia are completely repeating first phase of coup in Ukraine.

Russia: 'Events in #Armenia repeat 1st phase of #Ukraine coup.' Ditto Budapest '56, Prague '68? #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/yTuxF8Di4V

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The Kremlin fears a Ukraine-style revolt in Armenia http://www.bloombergview.com/article...ion-in-armenia …

youtube.com/watch?v=Jml_U9NRkpk … #ElectricYerevan LIVE. Could that yellow-blue guy be a CIA agent fr #Ukraine?pic.twitter.com/EfaOFrazl4

If Moscow Fails to Understand that Yerevan is Not a Maidan, That Alone Could Make It One, Markedonov Says http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com...tand-that.html …

Russia practically controls the entire #Armenia's energy sector: http://neweasterneurope.eu/articles-...enian-protests …

We will Win crowds chant at #ElectricYerevan protest @artakjournalist reporting 4 @CivilNetTV http://civilnet.am/live pic.twitter.com/2tnUNEdDqu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

The Kremlin fears a Ukraine-style revolt in Armenia http://www.bloombergview.com/article...ion-in-armenia …

youtube.com/watch?v=Jml_U9NRkpk … #ElectricYerevan LIVE. Could that yellow-blue guy be a CIA agent fr #Ukraine?pic.twitter.com/EfaOFrazl4

If Moscow Fails to Understand that Yerevan is Not a Maidan, That Alone Could Make It One, Markedonov Says http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com...tand-that.html …

Russia practically controls the entire #Armenia's energy sector: http://neweasterneurope.eu/articles-...enian-protests …

We will Win crowds chant at #ElectricYerevan protest @artakjournalist reporting 4 @CivilNetTV http://civilnet.am/live pic.twitter.com/2tnUNEdDqu

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Commentary intermittent English - Crowd has grown - human shield before police - priests intermediating - riot police have 3 water cannons

Armenian riot police now telling protestors/press/human chain to move away from barrier http://civilnet.am/live/#.VYraz1KZjTo … #ElectricYerevan #ոչթալանին

ElectricYerevan #ElectricArmenia protests spread to 4 more cities in #Armenia, including #Guymri. https://twitter.com/24todaynetua/sta...85018708684800 …

ElectricYerevan Night 3. Crowds growing bigger! pic.twitter.com/4fV16xkm9u

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Commentary intermittent English - Crowd has grown - human shield before police - priests intermediating - riot police have 3 water cannons

Armenian riot police now telling protestors/press/human chain to move away from barrier http://civilnet.am/live/#.VYraz1KZjTo … #ElectricYerevan #ոչթալանին

ElectricYerevan #ElectricArmenia protests spread to 4 more cities in #Armenia, including #Guymri. https://twitter.com/24todaynetua/sta...85018708684800 …

ElectricYerevan Night 3. Crowds growing bigger! pic.twitter.com/4fV16xkm9u

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A new brilliant sarcastic page trolling #Russian #media. #ElectricYerevan #Russia #Armenia https://m.facebook.com/stoptehactivistspls … pic.twitter.com/doKVzDbxHK

One has to admit that the Russian disinformation and propaganda campaign is actually quite good--they shifted on a dime for Armenia.

They were running out of topics for the Ukraine but seemed to have found new topics for Armenia.

US trained professional protestors at a Czech base to repeat Maidan in Yerevan. Nuland involved."
pic.twitter.com/1kznvdi7D7

Russian disinformation agency NTV reports "US may be behind Yerevan protests"
https://twitter.com/rentvchannel/sta...27313480749056 …

Armenia is part of my country, Russia. Their Maidan must be crushed at all costs. Like Tienanmen, for example" pic.twitter.com/HiKJcHp2QO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

One has to admit that the Russian disinformation and propaganda campaign is actually quite good--they shifted on a dime for Armenia.

They were running out of topics for the Ukraine but seemed to have found new topics for Armenia.

US trained professional protestors at a Czech base to repeat Maidan in Yerevan. Nuland involved."
pic.twitter.com/1kznvdi7D7

Russian disinformation agency NTV reports "US may be behind Yerevan protests"
https://twitter.com/rentvchannel/sta...27313480749056 …

Armenia is part of my country, Russia. Their Maidan must be crushed at all costs. Like Tienanmen, for example" pic.twitter.com/HiKJcHp2QO

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Good to go back a reread this article:

http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/06/1...irillova-says/

Quote:

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As a result of its propaganda effort at home, one that has seven main goals, Kseniya Kirillova says, the Kremlin has trapped itself in a situation in which Vladimir Putin can either continue to move toward a broader war or face the prospect of an explosion on the streets of Russian cities and towns. What he can’t do is “turn off the television.”

In a commentary for Novy Region-2 today, the Seattle-based analyst identifies these seven goals that the Kremlin is pursuing at home and shows how they leave the Russian leadership with few good choices and threaten both the Russian population and the world.

The seven goals she describes are:

1.A weakening of critical thought. Moscow’s domestic propaganda effort, she suggests, is directed in the first instance to block any critical thought about what is going on, to provide pre-packaged answers that people are simply to accept, and to drive them into “a situation of chaos and panic” where they will behave as a crowd with the crowd’s “archaic instincts.” To do so, the Kremlin-controlled media plays on the worst rather than the best instincts of the Russian people.

2.The Creation of the Image of the Enemy. Like its Soviet predecessors, the Russian government now is promoting the idea of a single enemy with tentacles reaching out to the world. Thus, the US is the main enemy, and all of its allies are labeled “’American puppets.’” RISI President Leonid Reshetnikov, a Kremlin advisor, delivers what is now the standard Moscow message: he says that it doesn’t matter whether Americans are Democrats or Republicans: both want to destroy Russia albeit in somewhat different ways. Ultimately, because Russia will resist, they will both turn to war.

3.Linking All Domestic Problems to Foreign Affairs. In order to silence any criticism of Russia’s mounting problems at home, Kirillova continues, Moscow propaganda seeks to exploit Russian patriotism and to link all problems to the actions of foreigners in general and the US in particular. That silences most Russians who know little about what is happening abroad and are prepared to accept that conspiratorial version of reality.

4.Stressing the Need for Consolidation of Society to Counter Military Threat. Related to the previous goal, Russian propaganda does not miss a chance to suggest that Russians have no choice but to unite given the foreign threat.

5.Putin Presented as Only Leader Capable of Opposing this Military Threat. No comment is necessary, Kirillova suggests.

6.Preparation for Inevitable Deprivations in ‘War Time.’ Given the threatening environment that Moscow media presents, she continues, Russians are encouraged to think that any deprivations they may face are “’a lesser evil’” of what is going to be the inevitable consequence of the current situation: a wider war. They are not encouraged in any case to think about the possibility of changing course.

7.West Must See Russia as Prepared for War. The only hope Russians are offered by Moscow propaganda is that if they show themselves willing to go to war, the West will conclude that it is too risky to oppose the Kremlin.

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The problem becomes serious when you begin yourself to drink your own "koolaid"--that is dangerous simply because one loses touch to actual on the ground reality and decisions made tend then to be totally wrong and then 3rd order of effects takes over and spirals out of control.

Russian officials including Putin and his FM are actually getting now a tad paranoid.

Senior Russian official accused United States of orchestrating coup in Armenia" http://www.rferl.org/content/putin-w.../27091328.html …

Russia will use its armed forces to counter any colour revolutions.
#AssadStyle
http://svpressa.ru/war21/article/125858/?vdim25061510 …

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

One has to admit that the Russian disinformation and propaganda campaign is actually quite good--they shifted on a dime for Armenia.

They were running out of topics for the Ukraine but seemed to have found new topics for Armenia.

US trained professional protestors at a Czech base to repeat Maidan in Yerevan. Nuland involved."
pic.twitter.com/1kznvdi7D7

Russian disinformation agency NTV reports "US may be behind Yerevan protests"
https://twitter.com/rentvchannel/sta...27313480749056 …

Armenia is part of my country, Russia. Their Maidan must be crushed at all costs. Like Tienanmen, for example" pic.twitter.com/HiKJcHp2QO

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2 Russian propaganda moguls of Armenian descent: "Armenia w/o Russia is the death of the nation."
#ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/zIu0XoZyla

Armenia youth protests were years in the making. Ppl want a govt that listens and is accountable. http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-06-2...e-years-making … #ElectricYerevan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

2 Russian propaganda moguls of Armenian descent: "Armenia w/o Russia is the death of the nation."
#ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/zIu0XoZyla

Armenia youth protests were years in the making. Ppl want a govt that listens and is accountable. http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-06-2...e-years-making … #ElectricYerevan

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ElectricYerevan after midnight #Armenia #Yerevan pic.twitter.com/LaKC4pKBVE

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Good morning from Baghramyan Ave. #ElectricArmenia participants begin daily clean-up as protest enters its 7th day. pic.twitter.com/jw66o5G6tU

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Russian media is the most hated thing in Armenia at the moment. Not Russia. Not Russians. #ElectricYerevan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

ElectricYerevan after midnight #Armenia #Yerevan pic.twitter.com/LaKC4pKBVE

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Russians Watch Protests in Yerevan with Apprehension - or Inspiration http://bit.ly/1KfzjPe pic.twitter.com/B4tPRJPjHo

Crowd shouts "We are #Armenia !" Right now in #Yerevan pic.twitter.com/gw2MOfLv29

People yelling "Towards the barricades", "join us", "no to plunder" #electricyerevan pic.twitter.com/D3sURl4oE4

Protesters are blocking streets of #Yerevan in #Armenia #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/wS9lnWxwLB

youtube.com/watch?v=LPUy18-8TWs … Guy fr Yekaterinburg,#Russia: #ElectricYerevan 'must go' or face snipers+'NATO-drugged' thugs pic.twitter.com/HrVPv8BTzf

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Putin and His Entourage Can’t Imagine People Can Protest on Their Own, Eidman Says | The Interpreter http://www.interpretermag.com/putin-...n-eidman-says/ …

Russia robbed #Ukraine's people through corrupt gas deals
#Russia robs #Armenia's people through corrupt electricity deals
#ElectricYerevan

Westerners commenting on #Armenia's #ElectricYerevan on #Russia state propaganda sites are all NOT there, but "know" everything about it...

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Scenes from #ElectricYerevan : Protesters passing out song sheets, learning & singing Sardarabad & other nat'l songs pic.twitter.com/dcVkyo3jm5

Must be called "The Strange Revolution" pic.twitter.com/tni0WVI7dg

ElectricYerevan Exposes #Kremlin's Mindset
http://www.rferl.org/content/electri.../27095362.html … pic.twitter.com/7IqGs4HSvi

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Scenes from #ElectricYerevan : Protesters passing out song sheets, learning & singing Sardarabad & other nat'l songs pic.twitter.com/dcVkyo3jm5

Must be called "The Strange Revolution" pic.twitter.com/tni0WVI7dg

ElectricYerevan Exposes #Kremlin's Mindset
http://www.rferl.org/content/electri.../27095362.html … pic.twitter.com/7IqGs4HSvi

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Paradox ElectricYerevan against RU media lies about them being Maidan : because in fact they do believe in RU lies pic.twitter.com/43UfLuhun9

Armenia violates ceasefire with Azerbaijan 90 times within 24 hours: http://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/karabakh/2411603.html … pic.twitter.com/MMQsgF8731

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Paradox ElectricYerevan against RU media lies about them being Maidan : because in fact they do believe in RU lies pic.twitter.com/43UfLuhun9

Armenia violates ceasefire with Azerbaijan 90 times within 24 hours: http://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/karabakh/2411603.html … pic.twitter.com/MMQsgF8731

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After Armenian prez offers "concession" by "suspending" electricity price, 7-day mark may be end of govt "patience" 4 #ElectricYerevan

Striking photos by @shelomovskiy of #ElectricYerevan http://bit.ly/1KhCh5Y

no matter what the outcome of #ElectricYerevan protests, there is no way to return to status quo; certain to be a long, hot & tense summer

Protesters not backing down #ElectricYerevan NOW http://civilnet.am/live pic.twitter.com/qECY0gfJvG

Armenian activists do not accept president's offer http://news.am/eng/news/274192.html … #ElectricYerevan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

After Armenian prez offers "concession" by "suspending" electricity price, 7-day mark may be end of govt "patience" 4 #ElectricYerevan

Striking photos by @shelomovskiy of #ElectricYerevan http://bit.ly/1KhCh5Y

no matter what the outcome of #ElectricYerevan protests, there is no way to return to status quo; certain to be a long, hot & tense summer

Protesters not backing down #ElectricYerevan NOW http://civilnet.am/live pic.twitter.com/qECY0gfJvG

Armenian activists do not accept president's offer http://news.am/eng/news/274192.html … #ElectricYerevan

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youtube.com/watch?v=aAoA4eVZyaU … 'Singing & dancing phase.' (As in #Ukraine, war next, #Russia's Ivans say) #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/vfd391NCGH

Russia has truly not learned a single thing out of the Maidan other than fear they will lose their power and money.

Armenia today

When a civil society stands up because they sense that their own government is providing them poor governance and or the lack of the rule of law--then that government will with time cease to exist--that is the lesson from the Maidan and it appears Armenians have their version of the Maidan just around the corner.

Martin Luther King and the concept of peaceful resistance in the face of police threatened violence seems to have made it to Armenia today just as it did in the Maidan..

The idiots never learn. Every time they attacked Maidan popular support and will to resist grew.

The crowd consists of youth, pensioners, women, children, 50,000+ #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/7N7ZYbJcxT

Thousands at #ElectricYerevan waiting for promised crackdown
Watch live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap8g...ature=youtu.be … pic.twitter.com/I0atttfxLI

This is just precisely how Maidan was created by Yanukovych. https://twitter.com/Matthew_Kupfer/s...01349635080192 …

Also, Bishkek 2010: lethal force against protestors ended Bakiev's rule. C'mon post-USSR leaders, you should know this! #ElectricYerevan

TASS says : 2 APCs and trailers with barbed wire appeared at Bagramyan str.
Plus 2 water cannons.
#ElectricYerevan https://twitter.com/mynameisphilipp/...02164466688000 …

Police as far as the eye can see. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/bswROm8nzA

Riot police & red berets stand ready at #ElectricYerevan, police continue warning protesters to clear the street pic.twitter.com/EYKnhQ3tvU

People as far as the eye can see. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/jM0FzhyGEg

Dep Pol Chief addressing crowds again "there r provocateurs among u" & warning that police will use force to clear street #ElectricYerevan

“Provocateurs”—that was the same argument used at the Maidan by the Ukrainian Berkat Police---the crowds have been actually quite peaceful.

Police said they will use force if protestors remain at #Baghramyan #ElectricYerevan

Police at #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/iLLikHqM2W

Hotel near the events where lots of journos staying had electricity shut off about 20min before riot police started warning #electricyerevan

Politicians & celebrities including former ambassador to Russia standing between #ElectricYerevan protestors & police pic.twitter.com/IWatAbHMsO

Police seems to be preparing to disperse #ElectricYerevan at #Baghramyan. Hope there will be no violence in #Armenia tonight.

bagramyan street in #Yerevan right now. Standoff continues, nobody is ready to pull back pic.twitter.com/NnOXZMB8N2

Police evacuated children and pregnant women to Liberty square #ElectricYerevan #ոչթալանին

Confusion at #ElectricYerevan. @CivilNetTV has 2 crews working, warnings continue by police, some at Liberty Square pic.twitter.com/GA1JrjRiGw

After unsuccessful negotiations w/ police, frustrated MPs & people form human shield #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/SPxVmdEpr5

We are owners of our country"
#ElectricYerevan readies for a crackdown

Police clearing out press, saber rattling with shields. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/3ANDcqj7HN

Police call the journos to leave the area and to not object to police actions. #ElectricYerevan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Russia has truly not learned a single thing out of the Maidan other than fear they will lose their power and money.

Armenia today

When a civil society stands up because they sense that their own government is providing them poor governance and or the lack of the rule of law--then that government will with time cease to exist--that is the lesson from the Maidan and it appears Armenians have their version of the Maidan just around the corner.

Martin Luther King and the concept of peaceful resistance in the face of police threatened violence seems to have made it to Armenia today just as it did in the Maidan..

The idiots never learn. Every time they attacked Maidan popular support and will to resist grew.

The crowd consists of youth, pensioners, women, children, 50,000+ #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/7N7ZYbJcxT

Thousands at #ElectricYerevan waiting for promised crackdown
Watch live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap8g...ature=youtu.be … pic.twitter.com/I0atttfxLI

This is just precisely how Maidan was created by Yanukovych. https://twitter.com/Matthew_Kupfer/s...01349635080192 …

Also, Bishkek 2010: lethal force against protestors ended Bakiev's rule. C'mon post-USSR leaders, you should know this! #ElectricYerevan

TASS says : 2 APCs and trailers with barbed wire appeared at Bagramyan str.
Plus 2 water cannons.
#ElectricYerevan https://twitter.com/mynameisphilipp/...02164466688000 …

Police as far as the eye can see. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/bswROm8nzA

Riot police & red berets stand ready at #ElectricYerevan, police continue warning protesters to clear the street pic.twitter.com/EYKnhQ3tvU

People as far as the eye can see. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/jM0FzhyGEg

Dep Pol Chief addressing crowds again "there r provocateurs among u" & warning that police will use force to clear street #ElectricYerevan

“Provocateurs”—that was the same argument used at the Maidan by the Ukrainian Berkat Police---the crowds have been actually quite peaceful.

Police said they will use force if protestors remain at #Baghramyan #ElectricYerevan

Police at #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/iLLikHqM2W

Hotel near the events where lots of journos staying had electricity shut off about 20min before riot police started warning #electricyerevan

Politicians & celebrities including former ambassador to Russia standing between #ElectricYerevan protestors & police pic.twitter.com/IWatAbHMsO

Police seems to be preparing to disperse #ElectricYerevan at #Baghramyan. Hope there will be no violence in #Armenia tonight.

bagramyan street in #Yerevan right now. Standoff continues, nobody is ready to pull back pic.twitter.com/NnOXZMB8N2

Police evacuated children and pregnant women to Liberty square #ElectricYerevan #ոչթալանին

Confusion at #ElectricYerevan. @CivilNetTV has 2 crews working, warnings continue by police, some at Liberty Square pic.twitter.com/GA1JrjRiGw

After unsuccessful negotiations w/ police, frustrated MPs & people form human shield #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/SPxVmdEpr5

We are owners of our country"
#ElectricYerevan readies for a crackdown

Police clearing out press, saber rattling with shields. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/3ANDcqj7HN

Police call the journos to leave the area and to not object to police actions. #ElectricYerevan

---

Again it has been corruption that triggered this—the entire Armenia energy system and production is owned by Russia oligarchs and the solution the government offered the people was a government subsidy that in effect was going to be taken out of their own tax money so in effect the population was actually paying the subsidy—and the government “thought” the civil society would “accept” the compromise??

LIVE from #ElectricYerevan: frustration w/ the govt was raising in the last 2-3 years - @KarenaAv pic.twitter.com/O42tjNiDls

Here's the thing: #ElectricYerevan isn't Maidan, but using force against peaceful protestors is probably the best way to turn it into Maidan

ElectricYerevan: more people arrived at the street breaking lower police line. Crowd is cheering!

This priest just led the crowd in a prayer using a police megaphone. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/1yvO9lv4mG

Hearing that a few thousand protesters on other side of police cordon, but not being let in. Crowd shouting 'unite!' #ElectricYerevan

To relieve some tension, check out this great new website http://electricyerevan.info/ for all things #ElectricYerevan, photos, videos, news etc.

People flooding back into Bagh. #electricyerevan

People on Baghramyan avenue continue their sit-in protest! #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/VzIbsgGQtm

The Kremlin's LieNews TV is at #ElectricYerevan to distort the truth for the audience back in Mother Russia! pic.twitter.com/sevPNFTljf

Respect to #ElectricYerevan - A most dignified, peaceful and determined protest. Any Police violence would be a crime.

Police force at end of baghramian blinked, thousands of people who were being blocked pour onto baghramian.

ElectricYerevan They have opened police line on Moscovyan side with people flooding in so it looks like police may be backing off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Again it has been corruption that triggered this—the entire Armenia energy system and production is owned by Russia oligarchs and the solution the government offered the people was a government subsidy that in effect was going to be taken out of their own tax money so in effect the population was actually paying the subsidy—and the government “thought” the civil society would “accept” the compromise??

LIVE from #ElectricYerevan: frustration w/ the govt was raising in the last 2-3 years - @KarenaAv pic.twitter.com/O42tjNiDls

Here's the thing: #ElectricYerevan isn't Maidan, but using force against peaceful protestors is probably the best way to turn it into Maidan

ElectricYerevan: more people arrived at the street breaking lower police line. Crowd is cheering!

This priest just led the crowd in a prayer using a police megaphone. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/1yvO9lv4mG

Hearing that a few thousand protesters on other side of police cordon, but not being let in. Crowd shouting 'unite!' #ElectricYerevan

To relieve some tension, check out this great new website http://electricyerevan.info/ for all things #ElectricYerevan, photos, videos, news etc.

People flooding back into Bagh. #electricyerevan

People on Baghramyan avenue continue their sit-in protest! #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/VzIbsgGQtm

The Kremlin's LieNews TV is at #ElectricYerevan to distort the truth for the audience back in Mother Russia! pic.twitter.com/sevPNFTljf

Respect to #ElectricYerevan - A most dignified, peaceful and determined protest. Any Police violence would be a crime.

Police force at end of baghramian blinked, thousands of people who were being blocked pour onto baghramian.

ElectricYerevan They have opened police line on Moscovyan side with people flooding in so it looks like police may be backing off.

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The way remarkable civil society uprising in post-Soviet Armenia is largely ignored by global media tonight is just sad
#ElectricYerevan

As #ElectricYerevan protests continue, the govt's problem: in tiny Armenia: everyone knows everyone, so police are less willing to crackdown

Chanting We Are the Owners of our Country, crowds going crazy at #ElectricYerevan as police continue to check bins

Reports of 50.000 people protesting in #Yerevan right now.
Protest against 9 Cent energy price increase turns into anti-govt movement.

People are bravely dancing and singing although police announces to use extra forces at 11 pm. #ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/LzFZvnADLc

Russia wants ppl to forget Maidan was a peaceful protest for accountable govt, for months til police & paid thug crackdown #ElectricYerevan

.@macbartkowski says #ElectricYerevan isn't pro-EU/anti-Russian, but "against corruption from their own country" pic.twitter.com/LsPTVLWflW

Be careful. Unmarked cars on Sayat Nova, the SE continuation of Baghramyan Ave, at Freedom Square. #ElectricYerevan https://twitter.com/Babken/status/615237437363597312 …

Armenia: Drone captures electric Yerevan on 9th day of protests https://youtu.be/zlDL2j_v-Fc via @YouTube

The civil protests in Armenia, originally over a hike in electricity prices, now corruption appear to some as a 'colour revolution' that needs to be stopped. The Guardian has a reasonable commentary, on a protest that has been poorly reported here:http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...rotests-russia

One passage:

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At the heart of the protests is the government’s perceived tradition of looking out for its business buddies: in this case Electric Networks of Armenia, owned by the Russian company Inter RAO, which has close ties to the Kremlin......But some analysts believe these proposals do not go far enough to address the underlying resentment.

“The post-Soviet system in Armenia, which by itself represents the Russian-style system of vertical corruption, does not work anymore,

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Please note a number of posts in the main Ukraine thread refer to the protests, especially as Russia has been cautious about a 'colour' outbreak and when I have time they will be moved here.

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MOSCOW/YEREVAN, July 2 (Reuters) - In a veiled warning to the West, Russia cautioned on Thursday against any attempt to spark a new "colour revolution" in Armenia by exploiting protests against electricity prices for political ends.

Large crowds of mostly young people have been protesting in the Armenian capital Yerevan for more than 10 days, demanding the government scrap plans to raise the price of electricity for households.

Russia has been wary of unrest on its borders since governments fell in Georgia's 2003 Rose Revolution, Ukraine's 2003-04 Orange Revolution and Kiev's 2014 Maidan protests - events in which it says the West backed the protesters.

"You know how the 'colour revolutions', and the Maidan in Ukraine, started," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a BRICS Youth Summit gathering of young people from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in Moscow.

"The current developments in Armenia - there is also a temptation among many to use them to whip up anti-government sentiment although the root of these events is purely economic," Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

"It seems useful for someone to go further and develop these processes in a political way."

Lavrov said that the West in particular was paying increasing attention to the role of young people in shaping national agendas, including through "peaceful protest".

His comments were the closest any senior Russian official has come to suggesting the West may have or be seeking a role in the protest in Armenia, which hosts a Russian military base, to pull it further out of Moscow's orbit.


FEAR OF COLOUR REVOLUTION

Thousands of protesters have been gathering every evening in Yerevan though their numbers dwindle during the day. Police tried to disperse them with water cannon early last week but the protest continued and has been peaceful since then.

The protesters have ignored concessions offered by President Serzh Sargsyan, saying they want the price rise of up to 22 percent planned by the distribution company, a subsidiary of Russian firm Inter RAO, to be scrapped entirely.

The protesters have avoided chanting anti-government slogans, saying their demands are limited to the electricity price dispute, though many also complain about alleged corruption in Armenia.

"I think the process of these protests is largely over - or if not over, heading that way," Armenian political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan told Reuters in Yerevan.

But Russian leaders fear unrest in neighbouring states could encourage protests in Russia and President Vladimir Putin said last year that Moscow "should do everything necessary" to prevent such a "colour revolution" in Russia.

Armenia, in the southern Caucasus, was once part of the Soviet Union and its 3.2 million people have been hit hard by an economic downturn in Russia, its main ally and trading partner.

It is also part of the Eurasian Economic Union, a political and economic bloc set up by Moscow to try to match the economic strength of the European Union, China and the United States.

The Kremlin has said it is up to Armenia's government and the protesters to resolve the dispute themselves.

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Why does Russia get so concerned about "potential" western involvement when it is the massive Soviet style corruption at the heart of every "colored revolt"???? AND especially when it is Russian oligarchs that control virtually the entire energy sector of virtually all of the former Soviet Union republics.

ElectricYerevan protesters are joyfully rocking out on #Baghramyan in #Yerevan #Armenia

pic.twitter.com/kFRENmgpwu

Never think the ongoing Armenian demonstrations have ended----

'Electric Yerevan' Insists No One Has Pulled Plug On Armenia Protests. #electricyerevan

http://www.rferl.org/content/armenia.../27108667.html …

http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/07/0...shmelyev-says/

Post-Soviet states entered second anti-communist revolutionary period, Shmelyev says

2015/07/02 • Analysis & Opinion, Politics

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The post-Soviet world is entering its own version of 1968, Aleksandr Shmelyev says, “and everything taking place in Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and so on can be conceived as a wave of ‘secondary anti-communist revolutions,’ as attempts to put the authorities under the control of society.”

In 1968, 23 years after the end of World War II, “a new generation of Europeans who were not satisfied with the post-war level of civil rights and freedoms appeared,” the Moscow commentator says. Now, 24 years after the end of the USSR, a new generation has appeared with the same anger and the same goal.

“Despite 24 years of a divided history and anything but simple relations among the post-Soviet states, Shmelyev says, civil society encounters in them approximately one and the same set of problems.” Among these are “weakly developed democratic institutions, an appalling level of corruption, unjust laws, the absence of an independent judicial system, insane income differentiation, the treatment of the political opposition as ‘enemies,’ intolerance to minorities, and torture in the police and penal system.”

At the same time, however, he continues, over this almost quarter of a century, “under conditions of relative freedom and inclusion in the globalized world have appeared a sufficient number of citizens who disagree with such arrangements but do not have the opportunity to change them by political means.”

According to Shmelyev, “the Internet is allowing those protesting from Mensk, Kyiv, Moscow, Yerevan and so on to be in constant contact with each other, to share experiences and to support one another.” In the post-Soviet space, this is facilitated by the fact that there is as yet no real language barrier: most of these communications are in Russian.

“If one can speak about ‘a Russian spring’ in the social-political sense, then only in this context as a series of mass protests against post-communist authoritarian hybrid systems. Then analogies with ‘the Arab spring’ appear completely logical.”
Consequently, “if one can speak about ‘a Russian spring’ in the social-political sense, then only in this context as a series of mass protests against post-communist authoritarian hybrid systems. Then, analogies with ‘the Arab spring’ appear completely logical,” the Moscow commentator says.

“No one knows,” he says, how the current round of events in Yerevan will end. “In Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Ukraine, street protests grew into revolutions; in Thailand and Belarus, they were harshly suppressed… in Turkey and Russia, the brakes were applied and a reaction followed; and in Syria, things descended into a long civil war.”

But if one considers these phenomena from a global perspective and not from a conspiratorial geopolitical one, “it is almost obvious that the future of each of the post-Soviet republics lies with those who are now protesting in the streets.” They have the advantage over those in power generationally and in terms of education.

“It is almost obvious that the future of each of the post-Soviet republics lies with those who are now protesting in the streets.” They have the advantage over those in power generationally and in terms of education.
And consequently, Shmelyev says, “sooner or later, Lukashenka, Nazarbayev, Putin, Sargsyan, Aliyev, and Karimov will pass into history together with the systems they have created. The question involves only when and at what cost in victims.”

Shmelyev’s optimism comes placing events in the post-Soviet states within a broader context (there have been mass civic protests in almost 80 countries since the beginning of the global crisis in 2008) and from three characteristics the post-Soviet cases share with the others.

First of all, he says, “contemporary protests do not need leaders and organizers.” Consequently, parties and trade unions play very little role in them and “cannot take them under control.” Horizontal ties are more important for the protesters, and they are suspicious of any vertical organization.

Indeed, he continues, “the agora of modern times does not need representation; its strength is in the absence of leaders whom the powers that be can so easily intimidate, deceive, buy off or isolate.”

Second, those protesting are not supporters of any particular ideology. They may “advance some specific demands,” but “at a deeper level they are typically moved by a global dissatisfaction with the authorities whom they view as backward and out of date.”

And third, Shmelyev says, this means that “the occasion for mass civic protests in our time can be almost anything,” including what many might think are minor or marginal issues. That makes these protests “practically impossible” either to predict or prevent, and it also means there will continue to be more of them.

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Another small victory for #ElectricYerevan
Armenia opens probe into police violence against protesters


http://news.yahoo.com/armenia-opens-...184517328.html …

The Armenian pol reality. Investigative journalists, not law enforcement/courts expose corruption #ElectricYerevan

https://twitter.com/hetq_trace/statu...45480501694464 …

Is Armenia trying to provoke a response????

ElectricYerevan: The employers dismissed many of the #Baghramyan Avenue protesters. http://bit.ly/1CSG0Ay pic.twitter.com/OCrnJHO0lH

Armenians have lost faith in Russia @AJEnglish

http://aje.io/4xzw

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com...m-victory.html … pic.twitter.com/9zjrx2a3dW

Saturday, June 27, 2015

In Armenia, Moscow Seeks Phantom Victory over Phantom Color Revolution, Latynina Says

Paul Goble

Staunton, June 27 –

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Many Russian analysts have suggested that the Kremlin views what is going on in Armenia as a color revolution because it is incapable of thinking about any protests in the former Soviet republics as anything but the actions of foreign governments in general and the United States in particular.

But Yuliya Latynina suggests there may be another factor at work here: Moscow is only to ready to declare some event as the beginning of a color revolution so that when passions cool, the Russian leadership will be in a position to claim that it has won another victory over the West and thus impress the Russian population (novayagazeta.ru/columns/68983.html).

Street demonstrations have now spread to five cities in Armenia, Latynina wrote in a commentary published in “Novaya gazeta” yesterday, but she argues that these protests are “typical for a post-Soviet country” in which people are being forced by the market to pay more for electricity than they expected to at a time when they are being increasingly impoverished.

Indeed, she suggests, “this is a classic post-Soviet contradiction. On the one hand, there is the habitual view of the poor population that electricity doesn’t cost anything; and on the other, there is the market economy” and monopoly ownership of electric power generators combined with a collapse of industry thus forcing the population to bear even more of the real cost.

In time, “the impoverished population must pay just as much [for electricity] as people do in developed countries.” But the process of shifting from expectations inherited from Soviet times to that condition inevitably creates problems and generates protests as has happened in many former communist countries in the past and is occurring in Armenia now.
In those countries where there is still some industry functioning, firms can bear some of the higher costs of energy. That is the case in the Russian Federation, Latynina says. But in others where industry has collapsed as is the case in Armenia, there is no one around to pay the higher costs except the increasingly poor population.

That not surprisingly sparks anger and sometimes demonstrations, the Moscow commentator says, but “these protests do not have any particular political subtext.” The problem here is that “even without such subtexts, [those like in Armenia now] hit Russia in a special way.”

On the one hand, she points out, Armenian President Serzh Sargyan is “one of the few oriented toward the Kremlin.” And on the other, Russian firms own the Armenian power producers. Those two things alone are sufficient, Latynina observes, to set the conspiracy theorists in the Russian capital to working overtime.

The Russian reaction is in fact the most instructive thing about the current situation. “In that total paranoia in which the ruling circles of Russia live, there is no explanation for anything that happens in the world besides the machinations of the United States.” Indeed, she says, she is surprised someone hasn’t suggested that “only prayers and FSB special operations have saved us from the fall of the moon,” something the Americans supposedly have an interest in.

But there is something more at work in the Armenian case, she argues. “Our conspiracy theorists need phantom victories over America, and when everything in Armenia calms down, they will with pride describe it as their suppression of a ‘rates Maidan.’ And everything will calm down in Armenia because that country doesn’t have any other way out.”

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A govt investigation into #ElectricYerevan crackdown is 'a good step' - @mmkarmenia

http://en.hromadske.tv pic.twitter.com/R46Pr3AffR

Armenian demonstration movement is now dying a slow death.

Not surprised due to small numbers. Whether #ElectricYerevan will continue depends on people but it left big impact. https://twitter.com/mmkarmenia/statu...87868665974784 …

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Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

Armenian demonstration movement is now dying a slow death.

Not surprised due to small numbers. Whether #ElectricYerevan will continue depends on people but it left big impact. https://twitter.com/mmkarmenia/statu...87868665974784 …

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Is this the beginning of the end for the politics of old in Armenia? @KarenaAv investigates #ElectricYerevan: http://bit.ly/1CgFEsy

Protests in Yerevan planned for renewal
http://belsat.eu/en/articles/protest...anned-renewal/ …
#ElectricYerevan pic.twitter.com/S6L2cr1aJh

BREAKING: #Russia starts military readiness exercise in Armenia - @mkomsomolets
http://www.mk.ru/politics/2015/07/07...-voennykh.html …

A quick overview via Open Democracy, the author appears not to have been on the ground herself. The sub-title is:

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Strong-arm tactics and cynical compromises are yet to send Yerevan's protesters home. Is this the beginning of the end for the politics of old in Armenia?

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Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/karena...rified-yerevan