More than 5000 people took to the streets of the Armenian capital Yerevan on Tuesday morning. Blocked from reaching the presidential palace when they were confronted by a wall of riot police, they began a sit-down protest blocking one of the city’s main roads.

They were angry at an announcement that household electricity prices were going up by 17 to 22%, but they got even angrier when police turned water cannon on them, and then charged the crowd.

More than 200 people were detained, and seven demonstrators and 11 police officers were injured.

Armenia has been hard hit by the recession in its main trading partner Russia, and has seen its currency devalue heavily in recent months.