Gold business of Armenian self-proclaimed "minister of state", Russian general in Karabakh Exclusive data obtained by Caliber.Az

Despite the fact that, Russian peacekeepers are stationed in a certain part of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region in line with the Trilateral Statement signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders following the 44-day war, Baku has full information about the events there, especially, when all the strategic heights are under Azerbaijan’s control.

Baku has repeatedly stated at the highest level that, having modern technical means, including satellites, it is able to track the movement of people and vehicles, and even see the registration plates of these cars.

Of course, we have the opportunity to see illegal activity in these territories and these are not unfounded assertions.

According to the video surveillance footage,  eight Kamaz vehicles, along with a Nissan Patrol SUV with an Armenian registration plate (731 - AB - 61 ER), were moving from Khankandi to Armenia everyday from November 10 through November 14 from 21:00 through 23:00 (GMT+4), the sources close to the military circles told Caliber.Az.

Proceeding from the video footage, the same vehicles were moving along the Lachin road from Armenia to Khankandi on November 16-18 morning. They left the city at night.

According to operational data, raw gold mined near Gulyatagh village of Azerbaijan's former Aghdara (current Tartar) district located in the area under Russian peacekeepers' control, are transported via these Kamaz trucks.

Base Metals, which is part of Vallex Group company based in Switzerland and was engaged in the looting of valuable metals in Kalbajar, Zangilan, Aghdara both during the years of occupation and now in the zone in which Russian peacekeepers are stationed, is involved in transportation.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry noted this aspect in its report “Illegal economic and other activity in the occupied Azerbaijani territories” in 2016. The company has an office in Khankandi.

Head of Vallex Group is 71-year-old Armenian citizen Valery Mezhlumyan,  residing in Yerevan at the following address: 30 Bironi Street, flat 3.

Financial investor is 66-year-old Swiss citizen Vartan Sirmakes, registered at an address in the municipality of Colony in the canton of Geneva.

Executive Director of Base Metals is Artur Mkrtumyan, who lives in Alaverdi city of Lori region at 20 Baghramyan Street, flat 8.

It is quite obvious that self-proclaimed "Minister of State" Ruben Vardanyan was also involved in such illegal activity of predatory plundering of Azerbaijan's natural resources, bringing huge income (the biggest "taxpayer" "Base Metals" company paid taxes to the "budget" of the separatists in the amount of $38 million in 2019).

According to some reports, he has already established control over the mine near Gulyatagh village and is receiving money from the owners of Base Metals company. Of course, this reckless company, operating near the Russian peacekeepers, is not afraid for its safety. Commander of peacekeepers in Karabakh, General Volkov, is provided with money and is unlikely to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

The beneficiaries preserving the current Karabakh situation in Moscow and Yerevan obtain revenues from the exploitation of the Azerbaijani gold mine. Some funds in Armenia are spent to finance the pro-Russian, anti-Pashinyan opposition, and the other part to purchase sanctioned goods for Russia.

Thus, criminals Volkov and Vardanyan continue working and plundering the riches of Azerbaijan, and the Lachin road serves as a passage yard for war criminals and marauders.