Lydian Armenia changes security company servicing Amulsar mine 

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.