Thousands of Armenian protesters continued to block one of Yerevan’s main thoroughfares on June 26, a day after the government refused their demands to reverse a 16 percent electricity price hike.
The demonstrators are blocking Baghramian Avenue just a few hundred meters from President Serzh Sarkisian’s office.
It remains unclear whether protest leaders would accept an offer to meet with President Serzh Sarkisian later on June 26.
The protest leaders insist the meeting must be broadcast live on television and radio.
Vladimir Gasparian, the chief of Armenia’s national police, told protest leaders early on June 26 that no one is allowed to make such demands upon the president.
Gasparian also urged them to keep their demonstration peaceful.
The protests have gained momentum since hundreds of riot police on June 23 used water cannons and batons to break up a rally and violently attacked journalists who documented the crackdown.