A well-informed Hetq source inside the Yerevan Brandy Company, whose main brand is Ararat, reports that during the past few years large amounts of distilled spirits have mysteriously disappeared from the plant’s vaults. The source claims that 300-400 tons has gone missing just within the past year alone.

The source says that an internal investigation is underway and that the head of security and other employees under his jurisdiction have been sacked.

Zaruhie Saribekyan, press secretary for the plant, has denied these allegations. Hetq’s source reports that there are even rumors floating that the spirits have been secretly sold off to competitors.

After an examination of the cognac produced by a competitor in France, it was shown that distilled spirits from the Yerevan plant were used.