Workers of Tsarukyan-owned plant urge government to reopen it, hold state responsible for lost income

Employees of the Yerevan Ararat Brandy, Wine and Vodka Factory called on the Armenian government to reopen the facility, saying the state, not their employer, should bear responsibility for the financial hardship caused by its closure.

The factory, owned by opposition leader and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, has been shut for a week after Armenian law enforcement authorities sealed the premises as part of an investigation. Tsarukyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, has been arrested on charges of money laundering and fraud.

Protesting outside the closed factory on Monday, workers sought answers from authorities over the suspension of operations, which have left hundreds of employees without work.

"There is no war and there is no pandemic," one employee said. "I want to understand why ordinary people should be forced into unemployment."

The worker, who said she is the mother of a minor child, questioned who would take responsibility for the financial consequences facing employees.

"People have many questions and many problems," she said. "I have a young child whose care depends on me. We all have different responsibilities."

She said workers support Tsarukyan and view him as "a philanthropist and an excellent employer," adding that they were not involved in politics and were concerned only about their livelihoods.

"We urge, demand and ask the prime minister to reconsider this situation and not leave so many people to fend for themselves," she said. "The responsibility for all of this should rest with the state. Our employer did not send us home. This is being done at the state level."

According to the employee, the factory has about 700 workers, meaning hundreds of families are now facing financial and psychological strain.

"We have been in this situation for a week, and we still don't know how long it will last," she said.