Environmentalists, Residents to Protest Government Decision to Re-appropriate Lands for Mining

Activists will be gathering outside the Government of Armenia building at 3 pm today in defense of residents of the southern Armenian city of Qajaran whose lands are expected to be seized by the authorities for mining purposes, according to information posted on Facebook by organizers of the protest, members of the Trchkan public initiative. Recall, the Armenian government has determined that 181.7 hectares of agricultural land in Syunik marz (province) is “priority, public interest” land and thereby belong to the state, which reportedly plans to sell it to a mining company.

Organizers urge “all those for whom the understanding of homeland is still dear, who are against the current policies and who don’t want to see only tailings dumps and [mining] pits instead of our villages” to come to the protest.

“We stand beside Qajaran residents. Joining our compatriots, we demand the Government of Armenia to immediately recognize the RA Government Apr. 28, 2011 decision no. 627-N that ‘certain lands found within the administrative borders of a few communities in Syunik marz (including Qajaran) are to be recognized as exclusive priority public interest,’ changing the significant purpose of those lands and through Armenian legislation providing these lands with its leasing right to Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine [Plant],” reads the statement posted on Facebook.

Recall, as well, that because of this government decision Qajaran mayor Rafik Atayan resigned from his position and submitted an application to leave the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. Though despite his resignation, according to local daily Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun (“Fourth Self-Authority”) the mayor said, “[Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan is my president; tomorrow too I will vote for him.”