(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Sabina Mammadli read more On December 25, several hundred separatists with the blood of
innocent Azerbaijanis on their hands took to the streets of
Khankandi in protest at the ongoing picket of Azerbaijani
eco-activists on the Lachin road.
Since December 12, the Azerbaijani eco-activists have been
demanding unimpeded access to monitoring of mineral resources
deposits in Karabakh under the temporary control of the Russian
peacekeeping contingent though the latter in concert with the local
separatists is obstructing the rightful demand.
Amid growing pressure and in a desperate effort to save his
drowning business and prove his attachment to the region by the
Kremlin was a right move, the so-called“first minister of
Karabakh,” Ruben Vardanyan, utilized all last resources to ensure a
high turnout in the rally.
Reportedly, local separatists did not hesitate to go as far as
intimidating the locals, threatening them with dismissals from
their jobs and ousting from the region if they refused to attend
their illicit protest. Moreover, Vardanyan and his pack offered
$30-40 dollars, free internet, and gasoline to those who would
attend the rally.
Those who gathered in the center of the city chanted various
slogans, composed in advance by ringleaders of the separatists. It
is beyond any doubt that the illegal presence of criminal elements
on the sovereign land of Azerbaijan automatically makes it a
legitimate target for the Azerbaijani army, which definitely
doesn't favor the billionaire.
For Vardanyan, Khankandi is the starting point for a career in
Yerevan's political ladder, where he was assigned with the
rehabilitation of the 'Karabakh clan' and the return of all tools
of influence on both domestic and foreign policy. Surely, a big
part of his financial concern consists of protecting the interests
of his numerous offshore companies that are currently plundering
natural resources, to be precise, gold and copper-molybdenum mines
of Azerbaijan.
The west, which is so eager about its support of Karabakh
Armenians, blaming Baku for the alleged blockage of Lachin road,
should pay more attention to the backstage details of Vardanyan's
companies.
In this vein, Vallex Group, a monopolist of the Armenian
metallurgical industry, signed an agreement with one of the largest
Russian banks, VTB Bank, on getting a $257 million loan for 12
years to develop Teghut copper and molybdenum deposit in Armenia
back in December 2007. The relevant agreement was signed in Yerevan
by the Armenian Copper Program (ACP), a subsidiary of Vallex Group.
According to the Azerbaijani Prosecutor-General's Office, Vallex
Group received 200 million dollars of illegal income only from the
exploitation of Vezhnali precious metals deposit in Zangilan
District from 2009 to 2017.
Paris and Washington, which were so vocal about their concern
for the well-being of the 'Karabakh Armenians' from the UN rostrum,
are here covering a swindler, whose activities are far from
ensuring the peace of ordinary people.
To recap, following discussions with the command of the Russian
peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022, Azerbaijani
specialists from the Ministries of Economy, Ecology, and Natural
Resources, the State Service for Property Issues under the Ministry
of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC were to conduct primary monitoring on
illegal exploitation of mineral deposits on Azerbaijani territory.
However, the monitoring failed due to the provocation of ethnic
Armenians.
Since December 12, Azerbaijani eco-activists and NGOs have been
holding a peaceful protest near Shusha. Their demands are
legitimate and logical.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @sabinammdl
Follow us on Twitter @azernewsaz
Tags: karabakh khankendi protests ruben vardanyan