Environmentalists and civil society activists organized a protest against the operation of the Amulsar gold mine in the Green Zone of the CBD COP17 conference, near the entrance to the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex. However, police surrounded the protesters and prevented them from unfurling their banners.
The environmentalists were forced to move down to the lower landing of the stairs leading to the complex, in the area directly adjacent to the street, where they unfurled their banners and voiced their protest, also speaking out about the obstacles they had encountered during the event.
A march toward Victory Bridge had also been planned, to get as close as possible to the Blue Zone of CBD COP17, but participants were not allowed to carry out this action either.
During the protest, Nazeli Vardanyan, environmentalist and Director of “Forests of Armenia” NGO, addressed the long-standing struggle over the Amulsar issue, the involvement of financial institutions, and the role of the public.
Pressure on International Financial Institutions
Nazeli Vardanyan recalled that the consistent efforts of environmentalists had led the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to withdraw from the Amulsar project. She noted that they had participated in four major World Bank meetings, raising the issue. “The banks are financing this project because the United States provides them with funding, particularly for the Amulsar project, and ultimately all of this will become a burden on our taxpayers,” Vardanyan stressed.
The struggle continues on international platforms, including at the level of conventions. The environmentalist cited the decision of the Bern Convention as another important outcome of these efforts.
“The Mine Is Not Operating and Will Not Operate”
Responding to circulating reports that the Amulsar mine was already operating or that the environmentalists’ struggle had faded, Nazeli Vardanyan declared: “The mine is not operating and will not operate.” She recalled that as early as 2012, 2014, and 2016, various high-ranking officials, including Hovik Abrahamyan, had announced that the mine would open soon. Yet, to this day, the mine is not ready, no new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted, and no mining has taken place.
Addressing the form of the protest, the environmentalist explained that it is impossible to stand physically in the same place or keep roads blocked for years. “People need to work. In addition, it is currently physically impossible to access the Amulsar area,” the environmentalist noted.
Protecting Nature - Every Person’s Constitutional Duty
Nazeli Vardanyan urged the public not to ask, “Where are the environmentalists?” but to recognize their own responsibility. “According to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, everyone is obliged to protect nature. This is every citizen’s individual responsibility, and people should not wait solely for environmentalists to take action,” she emphasized.
October 20, 2026 at 19:59