Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly boasted about creating thousands of jobs in Armenia. Let's set aside the fact that he has no connection to the creation of these jobs. These are jobs created by entrepreneurs through their work and investments. Instead, Pashinyan is directly connected to the closure of thousands of jobs in Armenia these days.
The closure of jobs refers to dozens of companies owned by Gagik Tsarukyan. These jobs have been closed due to political directives from above, and now thousands of citizens are facing the problem of losing their incomes. People are worried, supporting families, having loans that need to be paid, and complaining that they have been deprived of their means of livelihood, but no one wants to listen or respond.
Companies have been closed by political order, doors sealed, workers thrown out onto the street, while the head of government is having fun, taking selfies, climbing mountains. It seems that all the problems of the country and the people have been solved, and now he is enjoying his vacation, having gone on a long-term break.
The inconveniences created in external markets due to his government's policies were not enough; now new ones are being created. Just days ago, he assured that after his visit to Russia, agreements were reached to lift restrictions on the export of Armenian goods. Days pass, and the Russian market remains closed as before. And while the economy and citizens are counting their losses, Pashinyan is adding new ones.
What is happening to the businesses and companies owned by Gagik Tsarukyan is terror, which has no economic justification. Law enforcement and tax authorities are simply following orders. They have attacked a person's businesses and are trying to create grounds for seizing them. Long-term lease agreements are being unilaterally canceled without considering that millions of dollars have been invested based on these agreements. Contracts are canceled to seize property.
All of this is certainly directed against Gagik Tsarukyan and his political and economic activities, but the victims are not only Tsarukyan but also the state, the economy, the state budget, and the thousands of citizens who earn their living in those dozens of companies that have been closed by a single directive.
Every day, messages are being circulated about violations recorded in various companies, revealed abuses, and hidden taxes. If the issue is non-payment or concealment of taxes, it does not mean that a company should be forcibly closed and its workers thrown out. On the contrary, conditions should be created so that it can pay the alleged unpaid or hidden taxes. For this, it is first necessary for it to continue operating.
Non-payment of taxes is not a reason to cease a company's operations. Operations are ceased when there is an intention to drive it into bankruptcy and seize property and business under the pretext of non-fulfillment of obligations to the state. This is what is currently happening with Gagik Tsarukyan's businesses. By depriving them of the opportunity to work and pay the alleged taxes, if this is indeed the case, conditions are being created for the bankruptcy of the business. Then they will sell it to their favored businessmen and oligarchs, who have probably long had their eyes on these businesses.
All of this is a redistribution of property. Under the guise of law and legality, with false justifications, they are dispossessing a large owner who dared to present political ambitions and oppose the authorities.
The question arises, how did it happen that these widespread violations, illegalities, and non-payment of taxes were revealed only after Pashinyan announced that he would bankrupt Gagik Tsarukyan and dispossess him? If there were so many violations and abuses, what were the responsible bodies doing all this time? Why did they remember all this only after Tsarukyan announced his intention to participate in the elections? Would they have done the same if he had not participated?
The answer to these questions seems clear to everyone. This means that what is currently happening with Gagik Tsarukyan's businesses is a political reprisal with its economic, financial, and social consequences.
Different figures are being mentioned regarding the closed jobs in several dozen companies under forced downtime — up to 10-15 thousand. Let's assume it's less. But even the closure of one job is a problem, let alone thousands.
If these jobs remain closed, the consequences will soon be reflected in employment figures.
Just recently, Nikol Pashinyan announced at a government meeting the latest records for job creation. He stated that we have the historically highest number of registered jobs — in May 2026, 823,584 jobs were registered.
Of course, Pashinyan's declared historical record is at least 1,500 higher than the figures published by official statistics, but that is not the issue. When talking about historical records, it would be good to also remember how many jobs have been closed due to the arbitrariness of the authorities.
Creating jobs, about which such bold statements are made, is not their merit. These jobs are opened by entrepreneurs. And when these jobs are closed due to unnecessary interventions and pressures, and thousands of people are thrown onto the street, it cannot go without consequences.
