Sirusho Says Yerevan Authorities Ordered Removal of Large Cross From Pregomesh Storefront

Armenian singer and entrepreneur Sirusho, who operates a silver jewelry brand, has claimed that municipal authorities ordered the removal of a large cross displayed on the facade of her Pregomesh jewelry store in Yerevan.

In a post shared on her Instagram Stories, Sirusho said the business had been informed that the cross must be removed by June 11 or face financial penalties.

Sirusho is a prominent Armenian performer and the wife of Levon Kocharyan, a member of parliament and son of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

Responding to the controversy, Yerevan City Hall denied that the issue was related to the religious nature of the symbol, arguing instead that it concerned unauthorized advertising.

Speaking to Sputnik Armenia, Armen Arakelyan, head of the municipality’s Advertising Department, said the Pregomesh store had obtained permission only for signage displaying the company’s name in Armenian and English.

According to Arakelyan, the city has not received any application for additional exterior advertising on the storefront display window and therefore no authorization was granted for the installation in question.

“Employees of the relevant district administration informed the business about the issue,” Arakelyan said. “Time was provided for the removal of the unauthorized advertisement.”

The dispute has drawn attention on Armenian social media, where critics question whether a Christian cross should be classified as advertising, while city officials maintain that the matter is strictly related to compliance with municipal regulations governing exterior displays.

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