"Save Amulsar": A protest against the exploitation of the Amulsar gold mine took place in Yerevan during COP17

ArmInfo. A protest against the exploitation of the Amulsar gold mine took place near the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex, where the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) is taking place. Police prevented demonstrators from entering the complex, forming a circle around the stairs.

The protesters are demanding an end to the mine's exploitation, warning of the risks to Armenia's environment and water resources. They said they had notified authorities in advance of their protest and their intention to peacefully express their position, but encountered restrictions from the police. According to the protesters, law enforcement officers demanded that they move the protest from the area directly in front of the complex to another location. They were not allowed to hold the protest in the Green Zone of the complex and were also prohibited from organizing a march to the Blue Zone. Speaking to reporters,

Maya Barkhudaryan, a human rights activist and representative of the Civil Society Institute, said that a group of protesters were barred from entering the building where some of the COP17 events are taking place, despite having the appropriate passes, due to the "Save Amulsar" slogans on their T-shirts. She said they were also prevented from holding a march, citing the need to ensure the movement of buses carrying delegations. "For us, these are shameful obstacles. This has never happened before; I've been participating in such rallies for over 20 years," Barkhudaryan noted.

She also reported that their small group of approximately seven to eight people was closely followed by National Security Service (NSS) officers in civilian clothes. According to her, there were approximately ten officers present, who explained their presence as necessary to ensure the safety of the participants.

Barkhudaryan expressed bewilderment that in Armenia, which is striving for rapprochement with the European Union, participants in a peaceful protest would face such obstacles. She also noted that, despite the fact that fewer than 100 people joined their protest, law enforcement agencies nevertheless tried in every way to hinder their action.

"As you can see, it's obvious to the naked eye that fewer than 100 people gathered here. As a rule, if a protest involves more than 100 participants, permission must be obtained. However, despite our small number, we received a call from the Ministry of Internal Affairs asking whether we really intended to hold a demonstration and for what purpose?" "Such actions have nothing to do with democracy and democratic values," Barkhudaryan said indignantly.

The protesters' main demand is to stop the exploitation of the Amulsar gold mine. They noted that they have research from scientists and industry experts that points to serious environmental and geological risks. In particular, the protesters drew attention to the seismic hazard of the area, as well as the fact that the region is one of the largest landslide areas in Armenia. Furthermore, they noted, there are risks of disruption to the drainage system, radiation risks, and the threat of water pollution.

The protesters believe these risks cannot be completely eliminated or controlled. They warn of the threat to Jermuk, Lake Sevan, and other water bodies in the country, claiming that the effects of pollution could last for 500 years. The demonstrators also pointed out that it is impossible to develop the country's economy and communities at the expense of the health of its own citizens, including the population of Jermuk. Protesters were particularly outraged by the actions of law enforcement officers against children who came to the protest with photographs illustrating alleged environmental threats. According to participants, the officers were attempting to intimidate the minors.

The protesters emphasized that they do not intend to stop fighting against the mine's exploitation and will continue to seek a review of the decision to develop it. They also called on residents of the resort town of Jermuk, located directly next to the mine, to join their protest.

The protest is organized by the "My Heart is in the Mountains" and "Amulsar Without a Mine" initiatives.

The protesters came with banners: "Amulsar is only a mountain!", "Save Amulsar!", "Save our water!" And they scanned "Amulsar is just a mountain, Amulsar without a mine!", "Our gold is water!", "Our gold is Jermuk!".

It should be noted that the Amulsar mine was launched on October 10. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, launching the operation, announced that the Amulsar gold mine will produce approximately 210,000 ounces of gold per year. It is noted that as a result of the mine's operation, annual taxes and royalties paid 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 project is expected to be implemented as part of the strategic cooperation between Lydian Armenia and and the Armenian government. The company invested approximately $750 million in the project, $150 million of which was secured by a state guarantee issued by the Armenian government. Environmentalists criticized the Armenian government's decision, emphasizing that the mine's operations would cause irreparable damage to the Jermuk resort and Lake Sevan.