Law Enforcement Initiates Process Regarding Mining Companies in Armenia

The newspaper 'Žhoghovurd' reports that law enforcement agencies have initiated a process concerning the activities of mining companies operating in Armenia. According to information received, this process began following the revelation of illegal business operations by a company registered in the name of a member of the ruling 'Civil Contract' party's wife.

Noteworthy developments are expected in the near future. As is known, on November 28, 'Hetq' published that the police apprehended the director and employees of a mining company registered under the name of Sergey Bagratyan's wife, a member of the National Assembly from the 'Civil Contract' faction. On November 27, law enforcement officials transported them from the illegally operating mining site to the investigative body. The operation of the sand mine has been suspended. Due to the illegal sand extraction by the member's wife's company, significant damage has been inflicted on the state.

According to the prosecutor's office, on March 13, 2023, in the administrative area of Ranchpar, 6,750 cubic meters of gravel were removed without the right to use subsurface resources, resulting in damage to a 2.4-hectare layer of soil vegetation. Criminal proceedings have been initiated on the grounds of illegal entrepreneurship, land degradation, and violations of subsurface preservation and usage regulations (three episodes).