US company acquires major Armenian mine: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS

A U.S. company linked to businessman Konstantin Sokolov acquired Armenia’s Teghut mine from Russia’s VTB bank. Sokolov is also involved in U.S.-backed efforts to develop a new transit route across the South Caucasus.

Armenia’s government advanced efforts to seize AraratCement, one of the country’s largest cement companies. It’s owned by prominent businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, who has been detained on money laundering charges, which he denies.

Hundreds of people from Armenia’s fish farming industry held a protest in Yerevan, calling for government support amid Russian restrictions on trade with Armenia.