Finding: Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD) involved in Human Rights Abuses in Armenia

On March 31, 2015, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan, published his Annual Report examining the activities of 25 Armenian government agencies and compiled 167 systemic problems which have violated the human rights of thousands of people in Armenia.

Pages 173-175 of the Ombudsman's Annual Report deals with the Human Rights abuses against the residents of Meliq Village where  Mego-Gold LLC  (a subsidiary of Global Gold Corp) has been trying for 4 years to get its third tailings dam approved for its Toukhmanuk Gold Mine.

(see http://extortion-in-armenia.blogspot.ca/2014/10/local-villagers-at-meliq-oppose-gbgds.html)

The chief provocateur of the Meliq Community is none other than Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, the President, CEO, Chairman, Director and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp, a penny stock listed on the otcmarkets (otcqb:GBGD), that controls the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine.

Surprisingly, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is also the co-chair of the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), which is a tax exempt 301(c) registered lobby group that promotes public awareness of Armenian issues, encourage greater Armenian-American participation in the American democratic process, and assist in humanitarian and development programs in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, while strengthening the US-Armenia and US-Nagorno Karabakh relationships.

While Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is an active member of the US-Armenian community and a "respected" lawyer fighting for human rights for the Armenian people in the USA, in Armenia, he does not appear to be interested in Armenian Human Rights, and is pushing to build a gold mine, which the local Meliq Village community opposes.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, clearly has a conflict of interest. He operates a company that has business dealings with the Armenian government and also has access the Government of Armenia through his ties with the AAA.

He has used these ties to keep his projects alive in Armenia. In the past I have tried to expose these ties in my blogs.  (see http://gbgd-armenia-mining.blogspot.ca/2013/05/oh-what-tangled-web-we-weave-when-first.html)

Krikorian fights for Armenian Rights but his Co. GBGD abuses Armenian Rights in Armenia. http://t.co/xUm9lW3GHH https://t.co/dXgMIlYY01

— Bill Mavridis (@bmavridis) June 11, 2015

The Ombudsman's report reads:

In general, environmental issues have received over 100 complaints in 2014, the Ministry received complaints, there were also complaints about the environmental decision relating to the environmental impact assessment and examination of projects, project documents and their authorized by the relevant social and professional organizing hearings between a small period of time, being a small space allocated for the public hearing, public hearings on the project and the statement, the ministry's official website late placement, etc.  

For example, according to Melik village community of 74 residents' complaints, they were not aware of it to February 2, 2014, the ministry website said the former "Environmental Impact Assessment" The procedure established by Article 8 of Law of February 10, 2014 at 11: 00 pm will be held at Yerevan's Sundukyan Street 23/100 had "Mego-Gold" LLC's Aragatsotn province Tukhmanuk tailings project revised environmental part of the environmental impact of public hearings. Therefore, the discussion took place without the affected community participation. 

The study showed that in accordance with the law has not complied with the above procedure preceding the "Environmental Impact Assessment" of the Law Article 6 of the procedure, the intended operation of the notification provision. Thus, any initiator (in this case, "Mego-Gold" LLC) in the surrounding Environmental impact assessment of any activity implementation after being notified authority within 7 days to inform the affected community leaders and the public about the planned activities of the project proposals, to the affected community leaders and the initiator notice within 15 days organize the planned activities. Public hearings on the media information about planned activity, date and place of the hearing. 

According to the law, if within 30 days of the affected community or society's proposals are sent to the authorized body, is considered a positive opinion of the affected community. In this case, the Ministry of Janaury 17, 2014. Melikgyugh was written notice to the Chairman of the procedure laid down in Article 6 of the Law on the implementation of planned activities within the prescribed 30-day period before and after the completion of the public hearings on February 1, 2014 was published, and based on February 10.  In 2014, organized by the Public Hearings are directed to the law, Article 8 procedure documentation to the study, which was essentially an environmental impact assessment of the procedure in 2nd round thus clearly defined by law as binding public hearing dates were set as a result of various and procedures to ensure the implementation of environmental impact on the availability of complete and comprehensive conclusion. Therefore, the Ministry of affected communities should enable the prescribed 30-day period for submitting its opinion, which would be considered positive only in the event of failure. Thus, the Ministry violated above-mentioned period and further measures taken earlier. 

The Proposal. Violations of procedures to ensure the rule of organizing public hearings, environmental impact assessment and evaluation of projects, project documentation for proper consideration of the affected community's full involvement in the procedure.

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia. 

Armenian Government Expert States Global Gold Corp Operating Illegally at Toukhmanuk Gold Mine.

Ecolur Reports: http://www.ecolur.org/en/news/mining/national-assembly-expert-mego-gold-llc-implementing-illegal-activities/6598/

National Assembly Expert: Mego Gold LLC Implementing Illegal Activities

16:47 September 17, 2014

EcoLur:  SEE VIDEO BELOW

Hermine Poghosyan, Expert at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment, stated that “Mego Gold” LC is implementing illegal activities. She made this statement at the public hearings on Tukhmanuk gold mine project held in Meliq Vellage, Aragatsotn Region, on 10 September.

Hermine Poghosyan: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment is very interested in this issue. We have applied to competent bodies many times expecting expert opinions on the information and any other additional information. You don’t have an expert opinion for open pit mining. The opinion you have is issued for closed mining. We have an official letter that you don’t have the opinion of the expertise for open pit mining, i.e. your activities are illegal. “Mego Gold” LLC Director

Ashot Poghosyan: As you attended the project discussion, which already has legal force, I should say that it was submitted to the competent body on 11 September 2012. Let’s consider that you were inattentive and you didn’t see it.

Hermine Poghosyan: We applied to the Ministry in 2013.

Ashot Poghosyan: You didn’t enquire us at ll.

Hermine Poghosyan: Do you think that the ministry provided us with incorrect information?

Ashot Poghosyan: I don’t think so and it’s not true for 100% that the standing committee of the National Assembly is involved in the secret investigation, I don’t believe you.

Karine Movsisyan, Chief Expert at “Environmental Expertise” SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry: In 2006 an opinion was issued, which entitled “Mego Gold” LLC to carry out geoprospecting for two years to make a conclusion about reserves etc. Afterwards they should have submitted closed mining project. That is, our opinion issued in 2006 for open pit mining was valid for two years, then they should proceed to closed mining. Then our administration stated that the company didn’t submit us any project till 2013. This is the situation.

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia.

Local Villagers at MELIQ, OPPOSE GBGD's gold mining project in Armenia

The TOUKHAMNUK GOLD MINE License is coming up for renewal on February 28, 2015 and Global Gold Corp (OTCmarkets:GBGD) may lose the license. Frankly they should lose the license since they have failed to meet their contractual obligations under the terms of their mining contract.

GBGD, has failed to mine 153,000 through open pit operations and 1,095,250 tones through underground mining operations. In fact, according to Government of Armenia RECORDS, GBGD only mined 86,400 tones of ore from open pit operations at the Toukhmanuk gold mine between 2006 - 2012. Nowhere near the 1,259,400 tones of ore required to be mined under the term of the mining license.

Even the local community opposes GBGD's subsidiary, Mego-Gold, to build a third tailings dam in the area to support future plans to operate the mine exclusively as an open pit operation.

The MELIQ villagers complain of Global Gold's failure to pay employees, environmental damage, abandonment of two other tailings dams, water pollution and soil contamination.

Let us not forget that GBGD's 49% joint venture owner of the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine, Consolidated Resources Armenia (CRA), is suing GBGD for defaulting on approximately $2 Million in loans.

The JV between CRA and GBGD has failed and CRA is also seeking a court ordered liquidation of the JV assets, which include the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine. (see blog: CRA Seeks Court Ordered Liquidation of JV and Toukhmanuk Gold Mine: Jersey Court Orders Trial To Commence On An Expedited Basis)

Read below ECOLUR's report on the current community opposition to the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine.

ECOLUR is a local Environmental NGO.... EXCERPT from ECOLUR.am web site:   http://www.ecolur.org/en/news/dialog-with-officials/meliq-villagers-dont-believe-quotgentlemanquot-promises-by-quotmego-goldquot/6583/



Meliq Villagers Don't Believe "Gentleman" Promises by "Mego Gold"

11:06 September 11, 2014
EcoLur

 On 10 September the public hearings of Tukhmanuk gold mining project were held in Meliq Village, Aragatsotn Region, Armenia.

“Today we are discussing the first stage of mining, which will last 6 years. During these years ore will be brought from the open pit, it will be processes without any chemicals to produce concentrate,” said “Mego Gold” LLC Director Ashot Poghosyan and noted that the mine has 19 million tons of ore under estimated reserves.

On behalf of Meliq community, Village Head Hakob Mkrtchyan presented some demands to “Mego Gold” LLC. “For years you have given us promises, but to no avail.

On behalf of our community I’m posing demands in regard with the implementation of social programs. So if the community agrees and the mine works, Mr. Poghosyan, laying a drinking water pipeline is a must till the second half of October.

The second demand to construct a reservoir with the capacity of 300,000 cum in the upper part of the community for irrigation purposes. It’s not costly. Then, the construction works of the internal network of the trunk road, which is in poor condition. Also it’s high time to think over the main problem - a road joining the highway.”

“Under the geological and environmental data, when a tailing dump is full, it must be covered with a thick layer of ground and fenced so as an animal or human doesn’t enter its territory. The first tailing dump is full, nothing was done, the second is full as well… even a drop of rain causes it to flow into the river, which we use,” said one of the elderly community members. In reply Ashot Poghosyan mentioned that the tailing dumps are full of gravitational tails, which must be processed in the frames of this new project.

You destroyed the water in the village for 40 days, you didn't come personally and then the police detained me together with several other weather, you didn't come when we blocked transportation. You didn't construct anything for 40 days, as if there is no one living in this village,' another Meliq Villager told Mego Gold Director.

 Ashot Poghosyan gave the following reply, 'We have so-called 'gentleman' agreement with the village rural municipality. If any waterline stops operating in our area – around 226 ha, we are repairing it...once again I'm outlining this is a gentleman's agreement.'

 The reply made the participants more angry, 'After explosions water sources may change their directions.' The next question the residents were worried about was Mego Gold's debt of 8 million AMD since 2006. 'Why aren't you paying off...pay off people's money, then tell the people to come and work,' the residents said.

VIDEO OF MEETING:

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia.

Armenian Environmental NGO Blasts Global Gold, Armenian Minister of the Environment and Urge the CONVERSE BANK to Approach the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine Project with Caution.

On September 2, 2014 a press conference was held in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, regarding the objections by civil society against the development of a new 3rd tailings dam at the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine, located at the Meliq Village.

A report of the conference was broadcast by KENTRON.tv and covered by the newspapers Aravot and the independent news agency ARM-INFO.

Below is Armenian TV news report as broadcasted on Kentron TV on September 2, 2014.  (transcript below).

On April 26, 2013 the Minister of the Environment rejected Global Gold's subsidiary (Mego-Gold) application for the building of a 3rd tailings dam at the village of Meliq to support mining at the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine.  (see: BLOG: Global Gold's Application for A New Tailings Dam REJECTED by Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia).

The new approval came on June 30, 2014, two months after the appointment of a new minister of the Environment.  Word of the approval was hidden by the ministry and was only discovered by the public after Global Gold filed its June 30, 2014 10-Q filings.

Local NGO's are mystified on the about face. Nothing on the ground has changed that would justify the approval of the 3rd tailings dam. NGO's and the local villagers at Meliq oppose the project because and local laws have not been followed and the size of the tailings dam threatens the village, its water supply and farm lands.

The Aravot newspaper also published an article on September 2, 2014: «Արամայիս Գրիգորյան, ապացուցիր, որ դու Արամ Հարությունյանից վատը չես», translated to "A. Grigoryan, prove that you're not as bad as Aram Harutyunyan".

Many NGO's consider the last Minister of the Environment, Mr. Aram Harutyunyan, was bad for Armenia, and hope that the new Minister, Mr. Aramayis Grigoryan will not repeat the mistakes of the past and move to reject the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine tailings dam before it is too late.

Ms. Greta Gabrielyan of the environmental NGO Eco-Alliance stated that they have sent numerous letters addressed directly the President of the Republic of Armenia, and the Toukhmanuk Project and the threat to the Meliq village has received a lot of publicity. For these reasons the Minister should be careful to consider the 3rd tailing.  According to Ms. Gabrielyan, letters to the Ministry sent since April have remained unanswered, but on August 2, 2014 it became known that on June 30, 2014.

NGO's asked that the CONVERSE BANK of Armenia, the bank that is currently looking at financing the project, to be careful on what kind of project they are financing.

In another article published online by the independent news agency Arm-Info, Mr. Arthur Grigoryan, a lawyer said that: "We are dealing with a phenomenon when the project gets a positive score, despite the expert community's protest." 

Transcript of KENTRON TV Broadcast:

Narrator:  The building of the third tailing dam at the Toukhnamouk mine has been approved. Considering the ministry of nature protection has already once rejected this project presented since 2012.

Seyran Minassian (independent expert): After the rejection, absolutely no measures have been implemented, no new analysis has been added, no new plan has been added. What is the approval based on?

Narrator: The environmentalists are not only surprised on the approval to build the third tailings dam. Additionally, Mego Gold company has also prepared a new project for the operation of the plant and for the building of a new tailings dam. 

Arthur Grigoryan (Member of the civil initiative of the protection of teghut):  They have committed major breaches in that area. With this new project they are trying to cover and neutralize their violations.

Narrator: Based on the information held by the environmentalists, the new tailings dam subject to the new project, is many times larger than the village itself.

Arthur Grigoryan (Member of the civil initiative of the protection of teghut)  (Showing a map) This dark areal is the village, these small areas are the current tailing damps and this whole area is the new tailings dam. How many times larger is it compared to the village?

Narrator:  According to Seyran Minassian, giving an approval to the plant and the new project will damage a whole village.

Seyran Minassian (independent expert): If they proceed to build this new factory and implement this new plan then Meliq Village should be moved because it only has a length of approximately 2km and this makes it so that the factory is on one end and the tailings damp on the other.

Narrator: The president of the NGO, Ecological Academy, is convinced that the operation of the Toukhmanuk mine will not only be catastrophic to the Meliq Village but also to the Ararat fields.

Greta Gabrielyan (Member of Eco-Alliance):  Continuing the exploitation of the mine at Meliq Village means water that flows to the basin of the Halavar and Abaran regions will be polluted with heavy metal residues. 

Narrator:  In these circumstances, the environmentalists say the approval of the third tailings dam can be considered a criminal offence.

Arthur Grigoryan (Member of the civil initiative of the protection of teghut):  This is either the result of incredible stupidity, which I don’t think is the case, or just a usual corruption affair which is more probable.

Narrator:  We tried to get explanations from the director of Mego Gold Company Ashot Poghosyan who asked us to call back in 3 hours. After 3 hours, he answered that he’s aware of the environmentalists’ claims and that they are mainly false. Instead of presenting us with counter facts, he invited us to the public hearing due to take place on September 10.

Consolidated Resources Armenia (Appellant) v Global Gold Consolidated Resources and others (Respondents) (Jersey)

Ashot Poghossyan's New Year's Message to the People of Melikgyugh Village in Armenia: "Let Them Eat Coreg"

Upon being alerted that the people of Melik Village were suffering due to widespread bread shortages, Mr. Ashot Poghossyan, Global Gold Corp's  country manager in Armenia is said to have replied, "Let them eat coreg."

Like the disconnected rulers of old France, King Louis XVI and his Queen, Marie-Antoinette, lived in lavish homes and their subjects lived in abject poverty, and declared that if the poor have no bread they should eat brioche;

Global Gold Corp's. (otcqb: GBGD) country Manager and Operator of the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE, Mr. Ashot Poghosyan, too lives in a large and beautiful Villa in Gosh, but fails to pay his employees who have no money to afford to buy coreg.

Mr. Ashot Poghosyan, General Manager of GBGD, in Armenia and the Manager of the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine adjacent to Meilk Village

Ashot Poghosyan's Million Dollar Villa in Gosh, Armenia, Complete with Walled Compound and Private Pool

The local Villagers of Melik who worked at the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine, went without their pay, some since 2008,  and now try to live on the broken promises from Global Gold on their farms and try to raise cattle amongst their environmentally polluted fields and pastures of Melik village.

Melik Village Home

Melik Village Home

Melik Village Road

Meliq Village

In 2008 GBGD received advances of $3,500,000 from its "independent" director, Mr. Ian Hague, GBGD's largest shareholder and investor. The money was supposedly used for its operations in 2008 but the local labourers from the Village of Melik and regional contractors were left with unpaid salaries and fees for the worked they performed. 

The Melik labourers earned between $250-$500 a month and the back pay of $286,000 was converted to sham employee loans in 2010. This was announced in the GBGD filings that "As of December 31, 2010, the Company had loans due to employees in Armenia of approximately $286,000. The loans accrue interest at an annual rate of 14%." Now 3 years and almost 5 years waiting to get paid, these loans (back pay) remain unpaid by GBGD, Ashot Poghosyan and GBGD's President, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian.

Also in GBGD's 2010 year end report it announced that "The Company has been brought to court by several disgruntled former employees and contractors for unpaid salaries and invoices, respectively, as well as some penalties for non payment which totals approximately $350,000."  So total unpaid salaries and bills to local labourers and contractors was $636,000.

Meanwhile miraculously Mr. Ashot Poghosyan, GBGD's Country Manager, and Operator of the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine, was able to start building his Million Dollar Villa in GOSH. He managed this on a a $75,000 salary and apparently from money he apparently scammed over the years from his employer and investors of GBGD, through his private consulting firm, ARAX CONSULTING and related family controlled companies. 

I leave you below, with a video filmed at the Melikgyugh Village (Melik), where the local villagers complain about Global Gold Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and the broken promises made by GBGD's Country Manager and Operator of the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine. 

http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/global-gold-corp-gbgd-leaves-local-armenian-villagers-with-broken-promises

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia.