International organizations have come out in defense of Armenian environmentalists amid new lawsuits.

ArmInfo. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, together with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), issued a statement in defence of Armenian environmental human rights defenders Nazeli Vardanyan and Temine Yenokyan amid new lawsuits filed against them by the mining company “Lydian Armenia”.

According to the statement received by ArmInfo from the Civil Society Institute, the resumption of legal proceedings against the aforementioned human rights defenders by “Lydian Armenia” is a matter of serious concern.

“The organisations listed above are concerned that these proceedings, considered in the context of previous legal proceedings against the same defendants, bear the characteristics of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) and may have a chilling effect on environmental protection and public debate in Armenia. The Observatory and CSI call for an end to the use of legal proceedings that may intimidate, silence or discourage environmental human rights defenders and other civil society organisations from speaking out on issues of significant public interest,” the statement published on the website of the International Federation for Human Rights says.

The message notes that in February 2026, “Lydian Armenia” initiated new legal proceedings against Nazeli Vardanyan in connection with statements she made in an interview published on 20 January 2026 concerning the “Amulsar” project and “Lydian Armenia”. “Lydian Armenia” is asking the court to order Nazeli Vardanyan to publicly retract the disputed statements and declare that the information disseminated by her was false. The company is also seeking compensation from her in the amount of AMD 6 million (approximately EUR 13,000).

And a new lawsuit has been filed against Temine Yenokyan in connection with her Facebook post, in which she expressed concern about instances of water pollution and fires allegedly linked to construction work at the Amulsar mine. According to a report submitted by the plaintiffs in February 2026 as part of the Bern Convention case concerning the Amulsar gold mine, the proceedings are related to a Facebook post accompanied by a photograph of polluted water, in which Yenokyan stated that construction work at the Amulsar mine had repeatedly led to water pollution and fires. The company is also seeking a retraction of this information and compensation in the amount of AMD 6 million.

“The fact that “Lydian Armenia” has simultaneously brought cases against two women environmental defenders, in both cases seeking a public retraction and payment of AMD 6 million, heightens concerns regarding the proportionality of the measures sought and their potential chilling effect on environmental protection and public participation. The current proceedings should not be viewed in isolation from the longer history of litigation and other forms of pressure against environmental defenders who have publicly criticised or condemned the Amulsar project,” the statement says.

It is recalled that as early as May 2019, the Observatory, acting on the basis of information provided by the Civil Society Institute, had expressed deep concern over the prosecutions and defamatory campaigns against Nazeli Vardanyan, Temine Yenokyan and other environmental defenders, journalists and lawyers in connection with their work concerning the Amulsar mine.

“The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, together with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), calls on “Lydian Armenia”  to end the proceedings against Nazeli Vardanyan and Temine Yenokyan and to respond to criticism of the “Amulsar” project through transparency, access to information, scientific evidence and meaningful public dialogue, rather than through proceedings capable of having a chilling effect on public participation. They also call on the Armenian authorities to ensure that Nazeli Vardanyan and Temine Yenokyan are able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, participation in environmental protection and the defence of human rights without intimidation, retaliation or persecution, including by ensuring that judicial procedures are not used to impose a disproportionate burden on human rights defenders; to develop effective safeguards against SLAPPs in line with Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2; and to fully comply with Armenia’s obligations under Article 3(8) of the Aarhus Convention,” the statement further says.

In conclusion, the Observatory and CSI also call on international human rights and environmental protection mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention, to closely monitor the legal proceedings against Nazeli Vardanyan and Temine Yenokyan, as well as the broader situation of environmental human rights defenders in Armenia.

It should be noted that on 10 October, operations at the Amulsar gold deposit were launched. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, launching it in a ceremonial setting, stated that the mine would produce approximately 210,000 ounces of gold per year. It is noted that as a result of the mine’s operations, the annual taxes and payments made by “Lydian Armenia” to the state budget will amount to approximately $130 million, which will have a positive impact on Armenia’s GDP of 1.5-2%.

The “Amulsar” project is expected to provide more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. According to the community development agreement signed between the government, “Lydian Armenia” and the communities of Jermuk, Vayk and Sisian, $7-9 million is planned to be allocated annually for community socio-economic development programmes throughout the mine’s operating period.

The project is being implemented within the framework of strategic cooperation between “Lydian Armenia” and the Armenian government. The company has invested a total of approximately $750 million in the project, of which $150 million was secured by a state guarantee issued by the Armenian government.