Employees of Tsarukyan-linked hotel and entertainment complex protest closure, warn of tourism losses

Employees of the Multi Grand Hotel and the Pharaon leisure and entertainment complex staged a protest on Monday, urging authorities to allow the businesses to reopen after they were shut down for more than a week at the request of law enforcement authorities.

The hotel and entertainment complex are among several businesses linked to detained opposition leader Gagik Tsarukyan that have ceased operations following legal action against him.

Protesters said the closures have left them unable to serve customers or provide clear answers to hundreds of bookings.

"We are in a state of uncertainty," one employee told reporters. "We have more than 1,000 customers calling us, and we don't know what to tell them. The situation is impossible."

The employee said weddings are scheduled to be held at the restaurant beginning July 18 and in the days that follow, with clients repeatedly calling to ask whether the events will proceed.

Workers appealed to the Armenian government to separate legal proceedings from the operation of businesses, arguing that employees and customers should not bear the consequences of ongoing investigations.

They called on authorities to reconsider the closures and allow the establishments to resume operations so staff can return to work.

In addition to the impact on employees, workers said the shutdown has dealt a significant blow to Armenia's tourism sector.

"Not only have we lost our jobs, but we are also suffering major losses in tourism," the hotel employee said. "We had more than 60 tour groups scheduled for July, as well as a festival that was expected to bring more than 200 foreign guests and tourists to Armenia. They all have been canceled."

Tsarukyan, the leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party, has been detained on charges of money laundering and fraud rejected by him as politically motivated.