ArmInfo. Lydian Armenia announced the change of the company engaged in ensuring the safety of the Amulsar mine development project. This was said in a statement.
According to the source, Lydian Armenia has been illegally deprived of access to its legal territory for two years now. However, there are millions of dollars worth of property and equipment in the Amulsar area, and the company is concerned about reasonable suspicions of theft in the area. "Accordingly, in order to solve the security problem of its territory and its property, Lydian Armenia considers it advisable to change the security service company, which is authorized to protect Amulsar territory within the framework of the law in accordance with the RA legislation," the company said in a statement.
The change of the security company caused concern of environmental organizations. According to the Environmental Protection Front, today at dawn, security company representatives entered Amulsar, killing three puppies in the car under the wheels of the car at the entrance. Soon after, the residents of Jermuk, Gndevaz and Kechut gathered at the second post office, where the police arrived. The company's actions, according to ecologists, were expected. There is rumor that violent acts are being prepared in which Amulsar's guards will be involved.
"The Amulsar fight is a direct act of non-violent civil disobedience. This is stated in the report of the UN Special Commissioner for Freedom of Assembly, which stressed that this fight is not a provocation, but a peaceful gathering of people living in a clean natural environment. For two years now, Amulsar's defenders have been defending the health and life of all of us at the cost of enormous deprivation and great devotion, "said a statement by environmentalists who believe that the state should stop protecting a private company at the expense of the rights of the population. "The presence of an armed guard in Amulsar is unacceptable, this practice should be immediately eliminated. This is a clear threat of violence against the population of the communities. At the moment, as a result of negotiations, it has been agreed that the new security service will continue to operate in accordance with the principles of the previous one."
To recall, in May of this year, 23 residents of settlements near the Amulsar field, through an independent IPAM accountability mechanism, appealed to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to withdraw from the Amulsar project. The statement was joined by the international network CEE BankWatch, NGO "Ekolur", NGO "Forest of Armenia", NGO "Green Armenia" and the civic initiative "Armenian Environmental Front". In a statement, in particular, a call was made for IPAM to initiate checks on compliance of the Amulsar program with the social and environmental policy of EBRD. It is indicated that Lydian International, with the help of the former Government of the Republic of Armenia and the financial assistance of EBRD, did not apply the best international standards in assessing the impact of the program, as well as taking into account the opinions of adjacent communities. In addition, during the implementation of the program, Lydian International failed to properly protect the natural resources and economy of Jermuk, as well as the health of the local population. In this regard, the authors of the statement urge the EBRD to withdraw from the Amulsar program, which, they said, will be a crucial step in meeting the requirements of the social and environmental policy approved by the bank. Among the requirements are ensuring environmental and social impact assessments; resource efficiency and pollution prevention; protecting the health of the local population; biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources; stakeholder engagement and restore justice for the Jermuk population.
