Demands of Sotk Gold Mine Employees Met: Taguhi Tovmasyan

The employees of the Sotk gold mine have reopened a road and railway that were closed for several days, and the mine has resumed its normal operations. This was stated today, April 19, on the Facebook page of MP Taguhi Tovmasyan.

“The demands of the mine’s employees have been met. Since the end of last week, employees (specifically drivers) at the Sotk gold mine in the Gegharkunik region had closed the road leading to the mine and the railway. They demanded dignified wages, as they previously earned around 500,000 drams for the same hazardous work, but in recent months, their salaries had been significantly reduced to 120,000-150,000 drams.

It is understandable that part of the mine has come under Azerbaijani control as a result of the infamous November 9 declaration, thus significantly reducing the mining volumes and impacting the operating company. Consequently, about 300 employees were laid off and left unemployed, so there was an expectation that at least the remaining employees would retain their salaries, especially since they are working under the fire of Azerbaijani soldiers.

Therefore, by the end of the day, I learned that the Sotk gold mine employees had reopened the road and railway that had been closed for several days, and the mine resumed its normal operations. I was informed that Anatoly Gogotin, the CEO of GeoProMining Gold LLC, has mostly met the employees' demands, which I am very happy about. Compromise solutions are always acceptable. Although it would have been preferable if the issue hadn't escalated to the point of closing roads; this should not be a way to resolve problems.

P.S. Throughout the process, I have been in communication with both sides, both the employees and the management, acting in a mediation capacity,” she wrote.