"MultiStone" employees demand resumption of operations; Government  remains inactive

ArmInfo. Employees of the "MultiStone" enterprise in Abovyan have once again taken to the streets to demand the protection of their right to work. Their  attempts to obtain clarification from authorized government bodies  regarding the future of the company have proven fruitless, leaving  the staff in uncertainty for the past 10 days.

"What are we supposed to do? Sell our homes and leave the country? Is  that what they [the authorities] want?" the workers asked. "Is there  really no one who will come to us and provide answers? Why are you  forcing us to go to the government, to the Investigative Committee,  to block the roads? And we are supposed to be living in a democratic  country? We want to act strictly within the framework of the law, but  apparently, that does not work. We are being pushed to resort to  illegal methods—to block roads, just as Pashinyan did in his time."

The employees emphasized the urgency of their situation, noting that  deadlines for loan obligations and other payments are approaching.  They pointed out that banks show no concern for their employment  status:  "The day has come, and you have to pay," they stated.   Later, law enforcement representatives approached the protesters.  They held a private discussion with one of the employees, followed by  a conversation with the entire group, though the details of these  discussions have not yet been disclosed.

Recall, on July 6, 2026, law enforcement agencies conducted  large-scale searches at Tsarukyan's residence and over 70 other  locations, including companies within the Multi Group conglomerate,  as part of an investigation into more than ten criminal cases.  Following nearly 12 hours of investigative actions, Tsarukyan was  detained. The following day, the court granted the investigative  body's motion to remand him in custody for a period of two months.   The politician has been charged under several articles of the  Criminal Code related to corruption, including bribery and abuse of  influence. Tsarukyan denies the charges, and his defense team  maintains that the criminal prosecution is politically motivated,  challenging both the investigation's actions and the court's rulings.

As a result of these searches, several enterprises under the Multi  Group umbrella have been sealed. Despite the fact that this is  causing damage not only to the economy and the reputation of  internationally recognized Armenian products but also creating  serious socio-economic hardships for ordinary citizens who have lost  their jobs, the authorities have yet to provide a response.   Following the searches, only the "Ararat Cement" plant has resumed  operations, following protest actions and the involvement of  representatives from the Ministry of Economy in negotiations. The  remaining companies have remained idle for 10 days, and no authorized  government body has provided concrete explanations regarding the  future status of these enterprises.