In February of 2009 the employees at Sotq deposit went on strike demanding better working conditions and increase in wages. The administration of GPM GOLD Company [part of GeoProMining], the deposit’s owner, promised to settle all the issues…Working conditions at the deposit are hard…The dust containing a number of chemical elements…covers the whole territory. The employees breathe in this dust accumulating heavy and toxic metals in the lungs and liver… According to the workers, safety in the deposit is not ensured “…If you just complain, you will be sacked in 2 hours…” said one of the workers…[N]o compensations paid for hard work and for injuries sustained…Vardenis Mayor Volodya Khloyan [says]...GPM Gold Company [does not take any] responsibility either for ecology, or employees or the town. [also refers to Vedanta Resources] [The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited GeoProMining to respond but they declined to do so]