At the end of the 19th century, the Armenian village of Alastan in the region of Akhalkalak (Georgia) had 1,333 residents. By 1968 that number had grown to 2,215. Today, the population has fallen to around 700 (245 households). Most have migrated to Russia. The locked doors of many of the homes and other buildings symbolize Alastan’s current condition.
Had the bank done its homework in the first place, it would have revealed that Sukiasyan used the money to purchase large quantities of gold, a Bentley automobile, a house, and to invest in construction and in Metaks Group Ltd., among others.
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