Armenian authorities have deployed riot police to the edge of the so-called Electric Yerevan protest, despite promising not to send out the security forces if the demonstrations remained peaceful, RFE/RL reports. Protesters are demanding the government reverse a 16 percent electricity rate hike it approved earlier this month. Russia owns Armenia’s gas and electric supplies, as well as its distribution networks. Many Armenians view themselves as victims of a corrupt Russian monopoly and oligarchs.