I've Asked Not to Fall for Provocations: MP

The Alaverdi railway is open. I had a clear and honest conversation with the people. This was stated by Aren Mkrtchyan, an MP from the 'My Step' faction of the National Assembly, who met today with the employees of the Alaverdi Copper Smelting Plant.

“The Alaverdi railway is open. I had a clear and honest conversation with the people. The workers of the copper smelting plant have not received their salaries for 3 months. The railway was closed today. I informed that the issue is under the attention of the government, the head of the State Revenue Committee, the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, businessman Norik Petrosyan, and myself, and I outlined the work being done. I asked to move to the territory of the smelting plant and continue the conversation there.

Subsequently, I have requested not to fall for provocations, as we have received information that certain elements are trying to exploit the social issue for their sinister purposes. In the context of the extensive work being done to resolve this issue, keeping the railway, which is of strategic importance, closed is a direct blow to the government, our team, and me personally. I have asked not to allow a wall to be built between me and them. I assured them that I will personally break such attempts.

The people assured me that they will catch the provocateurs by their ear and send them to the Teghut tailing dump. I made it clear to the mayor and all present that I do not need an intermediary to meet with the people.

Thus, there are more than 93 million drams in the company's account, which the new management (which took over about 2 months ago) is ready to fully transfer to the employees, and this is enough to completely settle the salary debt for 3 months. The problem lies with the frozen accounts of the enterprise and the restrictions placed on them.

The director of the enterprise, Karen Ghazaryan, published documents exposing the previous circumstances. Dear people, we are one team, we are a family. We will do everything possible, even the impossible, to resolve this important issue. Thank you. As I said at the end of the meeting, I embrace each of you tightly one by one,” he wrote.