Actor Gnel Sargsyan, who played in the Shant TV series Secrets of Eden, then later in The Stranger, sued the TV company, complaining about the company’s choice of method of reprimanding him. 

The actor says that last December, he damaged an expensive car he was driving in a scene (he was driving on frozen ice), and the TV company obliged him to cover a portion of the necessary repair costs. Sargsyan, however, refused and decided he wouldn’t go to the square where the filming was taking place until this financial matter was resolved.

When it became known that part of his salary was withheld, he suggested to Shant TV head producer Hunan Soghoyan to take the matter to court to determine the extent of each party’s guilt. 

“The problem was that I was ready for filming, but there simply weren’t any scenes for me. And they accused me of violating my contract. I took the matter to court, demanding the 200 000 drams that was withheld from my monthly salary,” he says. 

Shant TV has not expressed an official view on the matter. The TV company’s PR manager, Liana Martirosyan, in response to a written request on the judicial process, said, “We have nothing to say.”

Gnel Sargsyan is pleased with the court ruling.

“The fact that the court forced the channel to compensate [me] for the missing salary is a good precedent for me — even if we consider that I paid more to the attorneys than I received from the court ruling,” says the actor. 

Armenian soap operas are quite unpredictable. Sometimes the screenwriter decides a character’s fate by factors that have suddenly risen and are quite opportunistic. Sargsyan’s character, for example, was unexpectedly “killed” on the show.

Whether Gnel Sargsyan will continue to work at Shant TV or not is not yet clear. The TV company is keeping mum on the matter, and the actor, though he doesn’t rule out the possibility in the future, considers it unlikely. 

“I doubt we will continue to work together, though we can consider the dispute between the channel and myself resolved. A few days ago, I met with Shant TV’s head producer, and we came to a general agreement. I haven’t yet withdrawn my lawsuit from the court, but I’m prepared to do so,” says Sargsyan.

The actor feels satisfied. 

“TV channels often abuse their positions and exert different types of administrative pressure on not only actors, but also others involved in the TV series. I think, we shouldn’t fear losing our jobs. It’s better to take pains and resolve disputes in a civilized manner — in court,” he says. 

Nune Sargsyan