Armenian Police Disperse Protest After 2 Weeks

Police cleared away barricades on Monday to unblock a central avenue in the Armenian capital that demonstrators had occupied for two weeks to protest hikes in electricity prices in the impoverished former Soviet nation

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. Hrant Khachatryan/PAN Photo via AP

YEREVAN, Armenia—Police cleared away barricades on Monday to unblock a central avenue in the Armenian capital that demonstrators had occupied for two weeks to protest hikes in electricity prices in the impoverished former Soviet nation.

Police also peacefully detained 46 demonstrators who refused to disperse, but released all of them quickly.

The protest organizers called on supporters to gather in the evening on nearby Freedom Square. Demonstrations against the rate hikes also have been on the square and police haven’t objected because traffic is not disrupted.