Electricity company in north Syria’s Azaz arms its employees after raising prices
AZAZ, Syria (North Press) – The Electricity Company, which monopolizes energy in the city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo, north Syria, has armed its employees after yesterday’s protests against the decision to raise the fees of electricity in anticipation of any actions that may be carried out by residents of the city.
Yesterday, dozens of city’s residents protested against the decision to raise the fees of electricity, in conjunction with protests in other cities and towns in the region.
North Press obtained footages shows one of the employees of the company with a weapon, as he signs some transactions.
North Press reported an eyewitness as saying dozens of residents gathered in front of the electricity company in the city of Azaz after raising the price of electricity by 50%.
The protesters chanted against the company’s decision to raise the price of a kilowatt from 85 to 147 piasters, equivalent to (400 Syrian pounds), accusing it of theft, the eyewitness added.
The place, where the protesters gathered in, was cordoned off by the Civil and Military Police of the city, in addition to closing the road leading to the central market.
In the context, the cities of Marea, al-Bab, and the town of Baza’a, northeast of Aleppo, also witnessed similar protests during which the protesters denounced the actions, which they described as “deliberate theft” by the electricity company.
In 2018, the local council of Azaz authorized the private Turkish company, AK Energy, to provide the city of Azaz and its countryside with electricity by laying high-voltage cables through Bab al-Salama border crossing in the Sejo area, north of the city.
Since July 2012, Azaz and the surrounding villages have been controlled by the Turkish-backed armed factions, and they include security services such as the Military Police, the Civil Police, the State Security and Drug Control, some of which belong to the factions and others to the Turkish forces.