Gold traders in Yerevan protest against tax hike

Gold traders in Yerevan once again gathered outside the Armenian government building on Thursday to protest against the recent tax hike following amendments to the Tax Code.

A business owner described the state of the trade sector as dire, noting that sales occur only for a month or two during the summer.

“We have been engaged in the gold trade for over 25 years. Every year, there are fewer buyers, no one is purchasing anything. What are we supposed to do? Shut down our shops, pack our bags and leave the country? Is that what they want? That won’t happen. There are people who truly love this country and want to stay,” a protester said.

The demonstrators stressed that the changes to the Tax Code were implemented without any consultations with them.

“They tell us to either work under these conditions or quit. This has always been the government’s approach. But why did we reject the former authorities? Have they ever asked themselves?” the trader remarked.

“We pay taxes just to watch them live in luxury, traveling abroad with their families and granting themselves endless bonuses. At whose expense? When people have low incomes, they cut back to survive. But we don’t see them doing that,” she added.