We will not pay any fines, whoever decides. Levon Barseghyan

Levon Barseghyan, the president of the Journalists' 'Asparez' Club, wrote on his Facebook page: “Amulsar will not become a mine. It’s over. This is not stubbornness; it is my deep conviction, just as I knew that Serzhik is a disaster and must be dealt with quickly. The opening of Amulsar will be an ecological disaster, a creeping, long-term, and irreversible catastrophe. Such disasters cannot be compromised with economic interests and potential income. The permission for this is based on the filth eaten by the Serzhiks; and if someone tries to go to some courts, there is a way to put that burden on the license issuer's neck, and then there is a very strong mass demand to avoid the risk of mining disasters. For now, I won’t say it's a popular demand. Time will show who will be ready to rise against making a mine of the mountain, and who will come to fight against us.

We will not pay any fines, whoever decides, we will not pay, and that’s it. They will not be able to do anything; they will not be able to impose any sanctions. They will make noise, and it will pass. In the case of not allowing mining, there will be no decline in any reputation, and the investment environment will not deteriorate. If miners do not invest, clean industry investors will do so, and so on. We are so afraid of investment risks. People, the mountain, and nature will keep Armenia longer and more sustainably than short-term and shortsighted plunder.

Nicole has accomplished a feat with many people, leading many selflessly. I greatly appreciate his dedication in general; I respect his efforts. However, I consider conceding Amulsar unacceptable and indigestible; it is a gross mistake not only from the perspectives of democratic governance and reasonable conclusions but also from the standpoint of long-term calculations and the state’s long-term interests. I would very much prefer not to see Nicole on the opposing side of my beliefs; it is a nightmare. Serzhiks and gyalmiks—don’t mess with us, or I will pour my wrath upon you.”