The decision draft of RA Government on «Amendments in RA State Budget of 2019, RA Government's Decision N 1515-Ն of December 27, 2018 and Providing RA Investigative Committee with Money» was approved at today's session of the RA Government.

The amount of 396 thousand 900 USD provided to RA Investigative Committee by the draft will be transferred to the company «Earth Link & Advanced Resources Development» (ELARD) to conduct complex forensic examination commissioned within the criminal case investigated in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee for exploitation of mine of gold-bearing quartzite of Amulsar, as well as for examination of reports on assessment of environmental, nature protection and social impact of mine exploitation.

Let us mention that within the criminal case ecological, geological, hydrological, geophysical, material, soil, chemical, technological, construction machinery and economic examinations were commissioned to find out the environmental impact risks in the result of mine exploitation.

On November 8, 2018 within the criminal case investigated in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee   prequalification procedure of international independent examination for assessment of environmental, nature protection and social impact was announced for exploitation of mine of gold-bearing quartzite of Amulsar.

Two professional international companies submitted applications to take part in tender.

On November 27, 2018 the mentioned companies were sent competitive technical task and were offered to submit a competitive proposal, action plan, specialists' list who should be involved in conduction of complex examination, as well as a price offer in accordance with the technical task.

The two professional international companies which had submitted application to take part in tender e-mailed the action plan, specialists' list and price offer in accordance with the technical task.

On November 20, 2018 the Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee signed the order N 185-Ա «On Approval of Staff of Tender Commission for Organizing, Holding, Summing up Results of International Tender for Complex Examination Commissioned within Criminal Case Investigated in Proceeding of RA Investigative Committee».

Pursuant to the mentioned order the tender commission created to organize, hold, sum up the results of the international tender considered the information submitted by the mentioned companies, made additional studies and analyses. As a result, preference was given to «Earth Link & Advanced Resources Development» (ELARD) which submitted a price offer of 396 thousand 900 USD (including taxes).

RA IC Chairman Hayk Grigoryan told the government members that the Investigative Committee together with the RA Ministry of Nature Protection tried to organize the process in shortest terms.

“Such kind of procedures usually last 6-8 months. With our counterparts of Ministry of Nature Protection we have accelerated the process as much as possible. There are procedures that were impossible to bypass. We have got over the preparatory process within 4 months and the company ELARD is going to submit the examination result within 12-16 weeks. However, every two weeks the company will submit a progress report. Initial data will be submitted by the company in May, 2019”, RA IC Chairman said at today’s session of Government.

It was earlier informed that a criminal case was initiated in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee on willful concealing of information about pollution of environment by officials of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection.

A report was received in the RA Investigative Committee from a citizen on pollution of environment related to exploitation of mine complex of gold-bearing quartzite of Amulsar by “Lydian Armenia” CJSC.

It was found out that “Geoteam” CJSC which later was renamed as “Lydian Armenia” CJSC submitted to “Environmental Impact Assessment Center” SNCO of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection  a report on environmental impact assessment of Amulsar gold mine project located at the administrative area of the RA Vayots Dzor and Syunik provinces. Based on it, on April 29, 2016 a positive conclusion of environmental impact was given by the mentioned SNCO.

Whereas, during preparation of materials data were obtained on the allegation that the relevant officials of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection being informed about dangerous risks of chemical pollution of environment in case the mentioned mine complex is exploited, willfully concealed from the population the information about pollution of environment with chemical materials dangerous for people’s life and health.

Considering that in the prepared materials there are apparent crime elements envisaged by the Part 1 of the Article 282 of RA Criminal Code a criminal case was initiated in the RA IC General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases. An investigatory plan has been worked out and necessary investigatory actions are conducted to provide the comprehensive, complete and objective investigation of the case.