Ararat Cement Employees Claim Multi Group Director Insulted Them During Protest

There was a tense situation at the Ararat cement factory this morning, as around 100 employees blocked the entrance of the factory, demanding that the factory manager, Sedrak Arustamyan, director of the Multi Group concern, resign from his position.

They also demanded an apology from Arustamyan. It is worth noting that the owner of the concern is Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the parliamentary Bright Armenia faction.

Henrik Khechumyan, one of the factory workers, told Haykakan Jamanak that for the past two months, the workers have been receiving lower salaries, and yesterday they went to seek clarification from the factory director, Samvel Tadevosyan. “They were calmly talking to the director, the deputy, and the heads of departments when Sedrak Arustamyan entered and wanted to get acquainted with the issue. After learning about it, Arustamyan said that those who want to work can continue to do so, and those who don't... and then he directed sexual insults at them. The employees responded in kind and left,” said Khechumyan.

He noted that this was the reason they blocked the factory entrance today, demanding that Sedrak Arustamyan come and apologize to them and resign from the management of Ararat Cement.

When asked how they envision the owner of the managing company resigning from its management, Khechumyan answered, “We are not saying that the owner should hand it over to the state; let another person manage it, and let the current director manage the factory.”

According to him, following the closure of the factory entrance, Sedrak Arustamyan visited the site and fulfilled their demands. “He apologized and has already signed a document relinquishing his management of the factory, leaving the management to the director of Ararat Cement.”