YEREVAN. – During the videoconference with experts from ELARD international consulting firm to discuss the findings of the international expert probe into the Amulsar gold mine project in Armenia and the relevant analysis, Minister of Environment Erik Grigoryan wanted to clarify where the proposal to form a memorandum had come from, and why it was written in the conclusion.

“Second, if the events noted in the memorandum are not implemented, do they consider that, in that case, it’s not enough to do work with this current EIA [Environmental Impact Assessment]?” the minister also asked.

The ELARD experts responded that it was the Armenian government that had given additional instructions.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, tried to find out how and where that instruction had come from, and the experts noted that it had come from the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

Subsequently, Pashinyan asked them whether they have any confirmation that the government, or any state agency of Armenia had set such a task before them.

And the ELARD experts responded that they have a respective Email sent by the Investigative Committee.