On the road leading to Vanadzor, a bear statue can be seen on a hill to the left. It is the symbol of Arjut village. Arjut residents are primarily engaged in agriculture. The community faces numerous problems - poor condition of internal roads, irrigation and drinking water network issues, and lack of nighttime street lighting. However, one of the most alarming concerns for the village is the landfill site located in Arjut. It serves Vanadzor and Pambak communities.
The landfill site does not comply with any sanitary standards and frequently catches fire. Toxic smoke from the landfill is constantly visible from the road. Around 20 hectares of Arjut’s arable land remain uncultivated due to pollution originating from the landfill.
Arjut is also affected by Arjut gold mining. In 2014, “Baktec Eco” LLC received a 25-year license to operate Arjut deposit but began actual operations only a few years ago. The deposit occupies 16.7 hectares and contains reserves of 3,467.4 kg of gold, 20.39 tons of silver, and 6,821 tons of copper.
Mining infrastructure - including the mine itself, the ore processing plant, and the tailings storage facility - also exerts environmental pressure.
Local residents are concerned about soil and smoke spreading from the landfill site, as well as the impacts of the mining operation.
“We witness that the landfill burns throughout the summer months, and the smoke spreads toward Arjut village, while above it lies the gold deposit. The village is constantly covered in dust and smoke,” Oleg Dulgaryan, President of Center for Community Consolidation and Support NGO, noted.
Experts from "Arnika" Czech organization, together with their Armenian partners - "EcoLur" Informational NGO and "Center for Community Consolidation and Support" NGO - have conducted an environmental pollution assessment in Arjut. Dust and chicken egg samples were collected.
The purpose of the research is to determine the level of contamination and propose solutions aimed at reducing environmental pollution and protecting human health. The samples will be analyzed in an accredited laboratory in the Czech Republic.
Toxic substances expert Nikola Zelenek notes: “Dust may contain both heavy metals from the mine and persistent organic pollutants from the landfill. We collect eggs to determine whether persistent organic pollutants are transferred through the food chain. People should monitor heavy metal levels in their bodies, as these can negatively affect health.”
“Citizens’ awareness leads to increased civic activism. Citizens or organizations can take these research results and directly address the authorities, stating: we have this level of pollution and we want change,” Project Coordinator Grigory Malikoff noted.
Arjut residents are waiting for changes so that future generations can live in a safe and healthy environment.
The study is carried out within the framework of “Ecological Transformation of Mining Areas in Armenia” project, jointly implemented by Arnika, Center for Community Consolidation and Support NGO, and EcoLur Informational NGO. The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
This article has been prepared with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic under the Transformation Cooperation Programme.
February 25, 2026 at 18:25