EcoLur
Upon the initiative of EcoLur NGO, Public Environmental Court tried the case “On Impact of Developing Metallic Mining on Environment and Human Health in Armenia” based on journalist Tehmine Yenoqyan’s application on 24 June 2019.
The member judges were environmental lawyer Nazeli Vardanyan, human rights defender Zaruhi Hovhannisyan, 'Association for Sustainable Human Development' NGO President Karine Danielyan and President of 'EcoLur' Informational NGO Inga Zarafyan.
Armenia has been facing serious challenges because of extensive development of metallic mining, non-extraction of a huge amount of rare and dispersed elements and ores due to continuous application of cheap technologies for mining of natural resources and not adhering to the entire cycle of ore processing, while overcoming these challenges requires colossal amounts of money. In individual cases, the consequences of the mining cannot be eliminated at all. The land areas, rivers and agroproducts polluted with heavy metals and toxic materials are increasing in Armenia year by year. Agricultural and forest land areas turn into mining infrastructures and tails.
During the public trial, the participation and liability of the g governmental bodies was discussed for the current situation.
Members of Armenian Environmental Front Civic Initiative Levon Gasparyan and Anna Shahnazaryan made speeches, as well representatives of RA Health Ministry Romela Abovyan, Mets Ayrum community resident, Lori-region-based 'Community Unity and Support Center' NGO President Oleg Dulgaryan, Geghanush community resident and barrister Arshavir Khalapyan, “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment’ NGO President Yelena Manvelyan and Lori Regional Municipality representative Artak Demirchyan. EcoLur’s expert Roza Julhakyan also presented her expert assessment.
Public Environmental Court reached a decision to recognize the violations committed in the mining sector, which have undermined the ecological safety of Armenia, resulted in the elimination of ecosystems, promoted the deterioration of socio-economic state, which resulted in irreversible ecological damage and economic damage of extremely large extents, to recognize all these violations as a crime directed at nature, humanity and state.
The final wording of the verdict will be published in 10 days.
June 24, 2019 at 18:38