A number of large companies owned by the arrested businessman Gagik Tsarukyan have not been operating for a week, and employees are effectively in forced downtime. Today, employees of the "Ararat" brandy, wine, and vodka factory gathered in front of the sealed doors of the company, demanding permission to resume work.
"We have been in this uncertain situation for a week, we do not understand what is happening," said one of them.
Gayané Ispriyan, an employee of the factory who witnessed the events that occurred last Monday, claims that law enforcement officials came in the morning and did not allow them to enter. She insists that law enforcement should conduct an investigation without halting the company's operations.
Jasmena Veziryan, who has worked at the company for 20 years, receives a salary of about 200,000 drams. Her husband does not work due to health issues, and she also cares for her 90-year-old father-in-law.
"Tomorrow is payday, who will pay us, we will have problems, so I ask our Prime Minister to resolve this issue quickly, we just want our jobs," she said.
Although salaries were paid before the actions of law enforcement, they still need to receive their money.
The "Ararat" brandy, wine, and vodka factory is ranked 357th among Armenia's largest taxpayers according to 2025 data, having paid around one billion drams in taxes. Law enforcement also went to several other companies owned by Tsarukyan and sealed their doors.
Employees of the "Multi Stone" company also gathered today, demanding answers about when they can return to work.
The restaurant "Paravon", which is also not operating, is the 80th largest company in Armenia according to 2025 data, having paid about 4.5 billion drams in taxes. Today, employees of the restaurant and the neighboring "Multi Grand" hotel also held a protest.
The demand is the same - to reopen the companies.
Last week, the production of the Ararat cement plant was also halted, but after a protest by employees, the government intervened and allowed work to resume.
Today, the State Revenue Committee announced cases of tax evasion at the Tsarukyan-owned factory, claiming that the state suffered damages of over 400 million drams.
