On December 13, 2014 RMG-Gold released the statement in media about resuming mining activities in Sakdrisi-Khachagiani #1 site. Moreover, in parallel to the company’s statement it became known that explosion has taken place at Sakdrisi.
We would like to inform the public, that according to the Law on License and Permits of Georgia for use of explosive material of industrial purpose, permit for use of explosive material of industrial purpose should be issued by LEPL Technical and Construction Monitoring Agency. Accordingly, “RMG-Gold” should have possessed foregoing permit issued by the Agency according to the rules established by law with a view to implement explosion on #1 site at Sakhdrisi-Kachagiani goldmine on December 13, 2014 (the site covered archeological site of Sakdrisi-Khachagiani ancient gold mine).
According to the official information possessed by GYLA, RMG-Gold had no relevant permit from Technical and Construction Monitoring Agency for implementation of explosion on #1 site at Sakhdrisi-Kachagiani goldmine on December 13, 2014.
RMG-Cooper implements explosion activities at the sites possessed by RMG-Gold. Further, from five permits on use of explosive material of industrial purpose issued by the Technical and Construction Monitoring Agency, only one issued on January 6, 2015 concerns the right to carry out explosion at Sakdrisi #1 license sites. Though the permit will not be relevant in case of explosion carries out on December 13, 2014.
Further, we would like to highlight, that as per Article 2591 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, conduct of any operations at the archeological site without relevant permit, or any intentional influence on the archeological site that caused its damage or destruction or that inhibited its dating, identification or retrieval of other key scientific information related to it, is punishable according to the Criminal Code. Further, according to Article 100 of the Code, an investigator, prosecutor should start investigation in case they are informed on the fact of offence.
GYLA submits its application to the General Prosecutor’s Office and calls on the agency for launch of investigation on the fact of explosion taken place at Sakhdrisi-Kachagiani archeological site on December 13, 2014.
