BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 4. The illegal exploitation of the Vejnali gold deposit by foreigners, including foreigners of Armenian origin, will cost them dearly, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said while receiving Vahid Hajiyev via video conference on May 4 on the occasion of the latter's appointment as special representative of the President in Zangilan district, which is part of the East Zangezur Economic Region, Trend reports.
“Armenia has savagely exploited gold and other precious metal deposits in Zangilan and other districts. In Zangilan, the Vejnali gold deposit was brutally exploited. They have also turned the area into an ecological disaster zone. The illegally mined gold was then smuggled abroad.
We have now started all the legal procedures. I have informed the Azerbaijani public about it. Not a single crime will go unanswered. First, we are calculating all the damage, the process of passportization of all our cities and villages is underway. Video and photos of each building or the ruins of that building are being taken. This is proof, and we intend to appeal to international courts. Preparations are underway. Also, the illegal exploitation of the Vejnali gold deposit by foreigners, including foreigners of Armenian origin, will cost them dearly. We know the names of those people. We will expose them to the world and they will compensate us. They will definitely pay compensation for the damage,” said the head of state.