UPDATE: Siberian goldminers on strike over wage arrears

(rewrites through)

NOVOSIBIRSK/KRASNOYARSK, May 18 (PRIME) -- Several dozen workers of a Siberian gold mine belonging to gold producer Uzhuralzoloto refused to leave the mine on Thursday because of wage arrears for April, a spokesperson for the regional governor said.

“At the Yugo-Zapadnaya mine of the Darasunsky Rudnik 81 people refused to leave the mine and go on surface demanding payment of the April 2017 wage,” the spokesperson said.

“According to our information, delivery of air and food was organized to support the workers on strike.”

But Konstantin Strukov, CEO of managing company YuGK, affiliate of Uzhuralzoloto in charge of the mine, denied any arrears and said that the loss-making mine will be shut down.

“A decision to close the facility has been made, because it is loss-making. All mining works will be discontinued, there are no wage arrears now,” he said.

The regional information center said in a statement that presidential envoy to the Siberian Federal District Sergei Menyailo has urgently departed for the region.

“Sergei Menyailo, who was on a working visit to the republic of Buryatia, has urgently left the city of Ulan-Ude for the Tungokochensky District of the Zabaikalsky Region,” the statement read.

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