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Several thousand demonstrators protest electricity prices hike in Armenia

Associated Press
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In this photo taken late Monday, June 22, 2015, Armenian riot police block demonstrators during a protest in the Armenian capital of Yerevan against a hike in electricity prices. Police in the Armenian capital have dispersed several hundred demonstrators who blocked a central avenue as part of their protest. About 5,000 demonstrators marched Monday to the presidential headquarters, but were stopped by phalanxes of riot police backed by water cannons. (Hrant Khachatryan/PAN Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this Monday, June 22, 2015 photo, demonstrators with Armenian national flags attend a protest in the Armenian capital of Yerevan against a hike in electricity prices. Police in the Armenian capital have dispersed several hundred demonstrators who blocked a central avenue as part of their protest. About 5,000 demonstrators marched Monday to the presidential headquarters, but were stopped by phalanxes of riot police backed by water cannons. (Hrant Khachatryan/PAN Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken late Monday, June 22, 2015, an Armenian protester waves a national flag during a protest rally in the Armenian capital of Yerevan against a hike in electricity prices. Police in the Armenian capital have dispersed several hundred demonstrators who blocked a central avenue as part of their protest. About 5,000 demonstrators marched Monday to the presidential headquarters, but were stopped by phalanxes of riot police backed by water cannons. (Hrant Khachatryan/PAN Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Several thousand people are protesting in the Armenian capital against a hike in electricity prices.

About 5,000 demonstrators marched Monday to the presidential headquarters, but were stopped by phalanxes of riot police backed by water cannons.

The protesters then sat on the road, blocking traffic. Police warned they would disperse the rally.

The demonstrators are demanding that the government reconsider its decision to increase electricity prices for households by 17-22 percent.

The landlocked country's economy is hobbled by the longstanding closure of its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.