Wellness center closure sparks protest amid Tsarukyan arrest

Employees and clients of the Multi Wellness Center rallied outside the sports complex on Saturday, demanding its reopening after authorities sealed the facility amid criminal charges against its owner, opposition leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

The center, part of Tsarukyan’s business holdings, has been closed for several days following his arrest on money laundering and fraud charges widely rejected as politically motivated.

Protesters said the shutdown has left staff without pay and deprived vulnerable groups of essential services. “This is not just a gym. Children with autism and physical disabilities come here. For them, the center is indispensable,” one employee said.

Others highlighted the financial strain on displaced families from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) who rely on their salaries to cover rent and loans. “No citizen should suffer because of political processes. People are being deprived of the income they depend on,” another demonstrator added.

The State Revenue Committee has accused Tsarukyan’s companies of tax evasion, but employees rejected the claim, describing him as a job creator and insisting the allegations are unfounded.