I wondered about the suggested statements of VZ shutting down for the next month (the Christmas holidays), so I took the liberty of calling RM today.  We had a pleasant conversation and I believe that the following points summarize concerns about VZ business culture during the holidays:

The VZ political system goes on hiatus similar to the Cdn/US systems.

Assume that politicos continue to function at the constituency (local) level wherever that might be as they do in NA (NorthAmerica).

The bureaucracy CONTINUES to function albeit at a lesser degree, again similar to NA bureaucracies and corporations.

It still remains possible that the permit could arrive during this period, BUT OBVIOUSLY it is not a given.

It was stated that an important meeting was convened in VZ between Christmas and NewYear a FEW YEARS AGO, and that KRY management dropped everything to attend.  Should a similar demand occur again during this similar period KRY management would again immediately attend to the companies affairs, and that includes Christmas day.