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Armenian police arrest 200 at protest over energy prices Armenian protests: Thousands rally against energy price hike
(about 18 hours later)
More than 200 people have been arrested in Armenia during protests about rising electricity prices. Thousands of people in the Armenian capital Yerevan have taken part in renewed protests against rising electricity prices.
Some 5,000 demonstrators marched to the presidential headquarters in the capital, Yerevan, but were stopped by riot police with water cannon. At least 6,000 made a second attempt to march to the presidential residence on Tuesday evening, reports said.
The protesters then sat on the road to block traffic, before officers moved in to disperse them early on Tuesday morning. Earlier, riot police with water cannon had dispersed a similar march and arrested about 200 demonstrators.
Violent clashes erupted, with seven demonstrators and 11 police injured. Protesters are opposing a decision to increase electricity prices for households by 17-22% from 1 August.
The marchers were demanding that the government reconsider a decision to increase electricity prices for households by 17-22% from 1 August. Armenia's electricity network is owned by a Russian company, which says the rise is necessary because of a fall in the value of the national currency, the BBC's South Caucasus correspondent Rayhan Demytrie says.
Armenia's electricity network is owned by a Russian company, which says the rise is necessary because of a fall in the value of the national currency, reports the BBC's South Caucasus correspondent Rayhan Demytrie. Witnesses said extra police were brought in late on Tuesday as protesters flooded Yerevan's central Freedom Square.
There have been a number of demonstrations in Yerevan in recent weeks, reflecting public discontent with the country's faltering economy, our correspondent adds. Many waved national flags and chanted "Shame!" and "No to robbery!"
The protest was organised by young activists with no affiliation to any political parties, according to Reuters. They also demanded the release of those detained earlier on Tuesday.
Armenian police spokesman Ashot Agaronian said that 237 demonstrators had been detained after some officers were hit with rocks. Officers in riot gear stood shoulder to shoulder to stop the crowd advancing towards the presidential residence.
Police responded by beating protesters with truncheons and launching water cannon. But early on Wednesday, protesters continued to fill the streets, witnesses said.
A similar march was held in the western city of Gyumri, where 12 people were reportedly detained. The US embassy said it was concerned by reports of police violence and called for a full investigation.
A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin was closely following the protests.
About 5,000 people had taken part in the earlier rally that was blocked by police. Protesters then staged a sit-in and stopped traffic before being dispersed with water cannon.
Clashes erupted, with seven demonstrators and 11 police injured. Police said arrests were made after some officers were hit with rocks.
There have been a number of demonstrations in Yerevan in recent weeks, reflecting public discontent with the country's faltering economy, our correspondent says.
The former Soviet nation still has close links with Russia. Armenia hosts a Russian military base and a Russian company runs its power distribution network.
The landlocked country has faced economic isolation since the closure of its borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan, over a land dispute regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh region.The landlocked country has faced economic isolation since the closure of its borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan, over a land dispute regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh region.