Residents of the Meghri Tashtun village have launched a petition drive to halt the construction of a mine by a Russian-Armenian company called AT Metals Ltd.

The Armenian government has only provided the company with an exploratory license but residents are fearful that the company is planning to do more than just carry out exploratory work.

Hetq tried to reach company management for comment, but Executive Director Rostislav Presnov and Managing Director Hayk Mezhloumyan refused to answer questions over the phone.

They said that they would only answer any questions in the company offices.