Russian billionaire German Sterligov (Source: Armenpress)
STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)—During a press conference held in Shushi on Monday, Russian billionaire and businessman German Sterligov announced that he intends to start production of eco-friendly food in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, according to Armenpress, citing Artsakhpress. Sterligov added that food will later be exported to Russia.
Sterligov described Nagorno-Karabakh as a wonderful place for producing affordable and eco-friendly food, and thinks that a trade house between Nagorno-Karabakh and Russia should be established through which the food can be exported to Russian markets without added chemical elements.
“If people in Russia try the food produced here, they will no longer use the food with chemical additions which is sold there,” Sterligov said.
Sterligov, his wife and five children left Russia for Artsakh three weeks ago. He plans on returning to Moscow on Thursday, showing journalists his air ticket during the press conference.
Sterligov revealed that his decision to move to Artskah came after he received repeated threats in Russia, specifically for his alleged activity with the Combat Organization of Russian Nationalists (BORN),a Russian ultranationalist gang, which he denies.
The only person he knows from BORN is Ilya Goryachev, said Sterligov. The leader of the organization reportedly asked the billionaire for money to start a pro-Russian Patriarch magazine, but Sterligov refused.
Sterligov also said that he initially wanted to leave for Belarus, but decided to stay in Artsakh. He expressed his admiration for the hospitality and kindness of the people there.
Sterligov hopes to return to Artsakh after cooperating with law-enforcement agencies in Russia in order to establish a farm and a fashion house, according to reports.
In related news, Azerbaijan has threatened journalists who attended the press conference in Shushi, saying that they will appear on Azerbaijan’s notorious black list for illegally entering Azerbaijan’s Armenian-occupied territories.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry earlier declared the Russian singer Ljuba Kazarnovskaya an “undesirable person” for teacing master classes at the Stepanakert State Music College. Commenting on this, the singer said, “I am in the same list with Montserrat Caballé and I am proud of it. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a great place, where I took young people. I am not concerned. As long as there is aggression in the world, no peace will reign. Here, in Karabakh, people want peace.”
The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan started publishing its black list in 2013. The blacklist of foreigners who are banned from entering Azerbaijan includes individuals who visit the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh without making an agreement with Azeri authorities. Sterligov was also recently added to the list, which grows every year.