For those searchers out there here is one we can try and find out.

Earlier today Roy Carson printed a story that mentioned Ruskaolin was in full operation. The only article that I have found in the past is an Oct 2007 article in which Agapov said the were still awaiting their environmental permit. I asked Roy about this and he says they did indeed acquire their environmental permit in 2008 and are in full operations. Ruskaolin is also located in the Imataca forest where the mining ban has been in place in my understanding.

Now the questions are:

Did Ruskaolin get their environmental permit?

If so was it before or after the ban on open pit mining?

If so why are they allowed to operate during the ban.

Most importantly if they did receive their environmental permit was it kept quiet by the VZ gov't in order not to bolster KRY and GRZ's cases.