YEREVAN. – The former employees of Nairit chemical rubber plant of Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, and who demand their unpaid salaries, on Friday assembled at Liberty Square, in the hopes of seeing President Serzh Sargsyan.

The police, however, do not allow them to approach the Yerevan Opera House main entrance, through which Sargsyan will enter to attend the May 1 International Workers’ Day concert, the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informed from the scene.

Nairit CJSC former Press Secretary Anush Harutyunyan told reporters that they will approach, with five or six people, to head of the presidential security, and request a meeting with the President.

As reported earlier, a total of 1,700 Nairit workers were formally discharged as of February 6. At this point, the total debt of Nairit chemical rubber plant—which no longer operates—amounts to 102 billion drams (approx. $215,184,825). Around $15 million of these arrears are the 18 to 24 months of unpaid wages of the plant employees.

The workers have assembled outside the Government Building and the Office of the President numerous times, and demanded a solution to their salary-related problems.