«ML Mining» Faces Court Over Environmental Penalties

The large construction company "ML Mining," associated with the former head of the Special Investigative Service of Armenia, has been fined by the Armenian Environmental and Mining Inspection Authority. Although "ML Mining" is contesting the fine in court, the matter pertains to substantial amounts of money, as reported by the newspaper "Zhoghovurd".

According to official sources cited by "Zhoghovurd," the company tied to the former head of the Special Investigative Service is demanding that the court annul the inspection acts dated December 27, 2023, specifically act No. 152 concerning the inspection results and act No. 97 regarding the base amounts of environmental fees. Additionally, they seek to dismiss other related decisions issued on January 31, 2024, regarding violations and damage compensation.

"We will follow the developments of the court's decision, but it should be noted that this is not the only issue surrounding "ML Mining." "Zhoghovurd" has reported that local community leaders have taken legal action against the company. Notably, Aslan Avetisyan, the head of the Ararat community, has appealed to the Administrative Court of Armenia to annul the competitive selection of land parcels in the Noyakert village of the Ararat administrative district, seeking to invalidate a 2019 decision allowing the community's agricultural land to be leased.

In essence, what was granted to the company is now being challenged.

It is worth mentioning that on May 23, 2019, the government provided a tariff exemption to "ML Mining," linked with Davit Sukiasyan, the head of the Special Investigative Service. The company is engaged in the extraction of sand and gravel, with the government stating that the imported equipment would be used in mining operations in the Kotayk region. This is not the first exemption the company has received from the government; previously, on January 25, 2018, "ML Mining" was granted an exemption on about 2 billion AMD or $5 million worth of imported equipment.