Protests at Nairit factory in Yerevan

A group of workers of the Nairit factory approached the residence of
Serzh Sargsyan with protests today. They expect wages to be paid
before re-exploitation of the factory, News.am reports.

The factory has been closed for a year. The last time its employees
received wages was 4 months ago.

The head of the president’s control service, Ovannes Ovsepyan, and the
head of the trade union, Grachyov Tadevsyan, had a meeting. Tadevosyan
said that Ovsepyan had promised that the head of the presidential
administration, Karen Kapapetyan, would resolve the wage issue in 15
days.

90% of Nairit's shares were sold to Rhinoville Property Limited in
2006. The new owner is registered in UK. It was founded by Samex
(Poland), Intertex (USA) and Eurogaz (Russia). Rhinoville Property
Limited seems like an off-shore company.

10% of Nairit's shares belong to the Ministry of Energy and Natural
Resources of Armenia. Vaan Melkonyan is the director general of the
factory.

The factory has seen no major investments since the purchase and has
been idle most of the year.