Electroprotests in Armenia as a Manifestation of the State's Crisis

Abstract

Protests against the increase in electricity prices, which broke out in Armenia in mid-June, were a manifestation of the increasing social, economic and political crisis that has been haunting Armenia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The protests were anti-systemic and - regardless of the declarations of the protesters themselves - contained anti-Russian elements. They triggered serious anxiety in Moscow, which in an attempt to appease the tension made several unexpected gestures. The protests are a new and important phenomenon in Armenian politics, but they are unlikely to generate processes that could affect the direction of developments in Armenia, as the country's internal situation largely depends on the geopolitical situation in the region, which is unfavourable for Armenia.