YEREVAN. – After being elected Prime Minister, I have been constantly alerted by our law enforcement and tax authorities that there are major issues—including tax-related—in connection with Spayka.

The PM of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, on Tuesday told the aforesaid to reporters at Noragavit customs house. He noted this commenting on the remark that numerous people were suffering due to the problem with respect to Spayka company.

“What is needed for an objective investigation shall happen,” he noted, in particular. Pashinyan added that he cannot obstruct any case.

The Premier stated that if Spayka wants to boycott, other companies will emerge, and Armenia’s respective market will regulate under competitive conditions.

“Each company is responsible that its activities be lawful,” Pashinyan said.

As reported earlier, the capital city Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction on Monday ruled that Spayka company director Davit Ghazaryan be remanded in custody for two months. Subsequently, a group of Spayka workers staged a protest against this decision.

On April 4, charges were filed against Ghazaryan, and within the framework of the criminal case into non-payment of large amount of taxes.

As per the respective State Revenue Committee statement, Spayka company has not paid 7,036,666,312 drams (approx. US$14,468,090) in customs duties and taxes to the state budget.