Epress.am News from Armenia
Twenty former employees of Armenia's flag carrier airline Armavia, which ceased operations in April this year, protested against its owner, Mikhail Baghdasarov, outside the presidential palace in Yerevan today.
They claim that Baghdasarov is seeking revenge against them for suing him and is not paying their salaries, while other employees have already received their salaries for March and April.
The demonstrators were invited inside the presidential palace, where they presented their demands.
"They openly told us that Baghdasarov gave the order that we were not to be paid. We said this at the president's residence and asked whether this is considered normal. They told us no, [but] we can’t do anything [about it]. They say it's his right. Take the matter to court," said one of the demonstrators, Kristine Mkrtchyan.
Note, the 20 protesters have already launched a lawsuit for the miscalculation of their wages. One court session in this case already took place, but the defendant did not appear in court.
The demonstrators, while in the presidential palace, also asked about the dissolution of the Labour Inspectorate, which concerns them as the department was dealing with their applications of their unpaid salaries. The president's staff informed them that the Labour Inspectorate has not, in fact, been dissolved, but has been absorbed by the RA Ministry of Healthcare.
Mkrtchyan said they intend to continue their wave of demonstrations, including one outside the US Embassy in Yerevan, so they can decide there "to what extent is our country democratic."