In Armenia, the pressure of miners on environmentalists and eco-activists is increasing. The latest example is the lawsuit by "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine" (ZCMC) CJSC against Tehmine Yenoqyan, President of "Green Armenia" environmental-educational NGO, which demands refutation and damages in the amount of 6 million AMD.
Regarding this issue, on January 12, " Pressures Over Environmentalists: Why Attempted to Silence Them?" a press conference was organized by "Media Center", which was attended by Tehmine Yenoqyan, President of "Green Armenia" environmental-educational NGO, Inga Zarafyan, President of "EcoLur" Informational NGO, and "Center for Community Mobilization and Support" NGO President Oleg Dulgarian.
On December 1, 2022, environmentalist Tehmine Yenoqyan posted on Facebook, where she specifically stated: "Yesterday, the pipeline leading to ZCMC tailing dump broke down again, the Voghji river was polluted again, a criminal case was initiated again and it will be forgotten again, a cover-up will be done, they will move on."
According to the company, "Yesterday, the pipeline going to ZCMC tailing dump again broke down" phrase is considered defamation.
Tehmine Yenoqyan noted that the source of the information about the accident is the environmental NGO "Iravater Kapantsiner", which raised the alarm on November 30, 2022, reporting that the Voghji river was polluted.
"I think this was an occasion after the previous court act, when "Lydian Armenia" Company was able to get an act in the Court of Appeal, according to which I should pay them 1 million 224 thousand AMD. Now ZCMC is filing another lawsuit against me. We will continue the fight in court. If there is another unjust judicial act, we will fight until the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR),” she said.
Inga Zarafyan also mentioned that mining companies have become more active recently. “Various applications are submitted to carry out new works in new mines, even those that were once deprived of their mining licenses for defaulting on their duties, have restored them through the court. However, the residents of the affected settlements oppose these applications. This causes conflict between miners and local people, non-governmental organizations and eco-activists. The role of the Government and governing bodies is very important. Meanwhile, we have an incomplete legal framework that fully supports irresponsible business.
"Two very large interested parties (the government and the companies) see a common interest, while the local population and political understanding remain on the other side," she emphasized.
Oleg Dulgarian informed that an open letter is currently being prepared by a group of Armenian NGOs addressed to RA President Vahagn Khachatryan, RA Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor, special rapporteur on environmentalists Michelle Forst, which mentions on cases of oppression of environmentalists in RA. The letter calls for these structures, within the framework of their powers, to show their attitude towards these phenomena in Armenia in accordance with their mission.
Photo Credit: Media Center
January 12, 2023 at 15:44