Environmentalist: Tukhmanuk mine operated illegally
Global Gold Mining Company has been illegally operating Tukhmanuk mine in Aragatsotni marz (province) for five years, Greta Gabrielyan, Chairperson of "Environmental Academy" NGO, told journalists on May 31.
The permit for the mine exploitation was issued in 2006 for two years, however, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan extended the exploitation period for another two years. The licence expired long ago.
Environmentalist Silva Adamyan does not exclude corruption risks here. Lawyer Ruzanna Ghazaryan adds that the American side has made great investments in the project but the money was not spent for due purpose.
She added that criminal charges had been filed against Ashot Poghosyan, Director of the Armenian branch of Global Gold Mining.
Residents of Melik village near which Tukhmanuk mine is located complain about the scarce water, land disqualification, low quality and poor harvest. The residents of Meghradzor were also against the exploitation of the mine as they didn't want to jeopardize existence of their future generations.
