Company RMG Gold denies vandalism charges
Tweet 
Share
A mining company has adamantly denied claims it will vandalise an ancient gold mine when it begins excavating the site.
RMG Gold said charges against the company concerning the Sakdrisi Gold Mine, were "unfounded and "absurd at a press conference on January 13.
Several non-government organisations and archeologists have accused the company of vandalizing the prehistoric territory.
The consultant to the Cultural Heritage issues of the RMG Gold company, Soso Tsabadze, said the Ministry of Culture was acting one-sided against the company.
"Sakdrisi Gold Mine does not have cultural monument status. So all charges that we are vandals and trying to annihilate a cultural monument is absurd, said Tsabadze at the press conference.
He also claimed the Ministry of Culture had delayed approving permission for the company to begin working at the Sakdrisi territory.
Sakdrisi Gold Mine is the oldest gold mine in the world, which dates back almost 5,000 years. German and Georgian archeologists have been excavating the site since 2006.
RMG Gold decided to begin technical work at the gold mine after the Ministry of Culture abolished Sakdrisi Gold Mines status as a cultural monument. Furthermore, according to the Presidents wishes, issued in July 2013, the Sakdrisi Gold Mine was removed from the National significance category.
Several days ago the National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage urged RMG Gold to cancel working at the Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani territory.
On January 10, representatives of the Ministry of Culture were forbidden to enter ancient Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani territory. Security on behalf of RMG Gold told them to leave the territory.
Several German and Georgian archaeologists claim the gold mine is the oldest mine in the world. Georgian Ministry of Culture did not confirm that the gold and golden ores that were being mined were from the prehistoric era.
Ministry of Culture officials were forbidden to enter ancient Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani territory, where a prehistoric gold mine is located. Sakdrisi Gold Mine is the oldest gold mine in the world, dating back almost 5,000 years.
Minister Guram Odisharia addressed Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in a bid to dismiss the First Deputy Culture Minister Marine Mizandari on February 5.
The First Deputy Minister of Culture and Monument Protection Marine Mizandari has been dismissed by the order of the Prime Minister
Former first Deputy Minister of Culture Marina Mizandari will appeal to the Civil Court against an official decision to terminate her employment.
RMG Gold will resume work at Sakdrisi gold mine in southern Georgia, which some archaeologists believe is the world’s oldest gold mine.
Major issues surrounding the Sakdrisi gold mine will be investigated by international experts in a bid to resolve the vast problems surrounding the mine.
German and Swiss experts are in southern Georgia to assess the controversial mining issue at the Sakdrisi gold mine.
A court ruling has overturned a Ministerial decision to allow Russian-owned mining company RMG Gold to continue mining at the Sakdrisi Gold Mine in southern Georgia.
A court decision has annulled a Ministerial decision to suspend Sakdrisi Gold Mine’s status as a historical monument.
Establishing the historical importance of Sakdrisi Gold Mine in southern Georgia is in doubt after the Government approved RMG Gold to resume mining at the controversial site.
Every civilized country is obliged to take care of its cultural heritage, said Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili while commenting the controversy surrounding Sakdrisi Gold Mine.
The employees of the Sakdrisi Gold Mine in southern Georgia demanding reestablishing mining at the controversial site said if RMG Gold, a company carrying out the mining operation stopped working at the site, jobs would dry up and they would be unemployed again.
Leaving 3,000 families without a job in the current situation in Georgia is a very big irresponsibility, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili today said while commenting the developments around the controversial Sakdrisi Gold Mine.
We must define our priorities considering the country's interests and only then make a decision, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili noted while commenting on the controversial Sakdrisi Gold Mine issue today.
Georgian Agriculture and Environment Minister Levan Davitashvili has stated today that mining company RMG Gold and Copper is polluting local rivers in Bolnisi region in east Georgia.
Georgian Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Levan Davitashvili and head of parliament’s Environmental Protection Committee, Nino Tsilosani visited the gold mining company RMG Gold and Copper in the village of Kazreti, Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia earlier today to check how the company meets its obligation to cease pollution.
Mining company Rich Metals Group (RMG) has released 1,000 zander fish in the Mashavera River in Kvemo Kartli region as part of its environmental responsibility project, reports the Georgian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
The 17th Century Abulmugi Persian Bath has been relocated from its historical site to a new safe location in Kvemo Kartli municipality.The Sakdrisi Committee presented the renovated cultural heritage monument on September 21.