Epress.am News from Armenia
Residents of 5 villages in Armenia’s Lori province today held a demonstration against the exploitation of a gold-polymetallic mine at the mountain Shekaghbyur by MIRAM mining company. A group of villagers from Advin, Mghart, Arevatsag, Aygehat and Odzun blocked the entrance to a building in the center of Mghart, where representatives of MIRAM were to hold a public hearing to present their mining plans.
The demonstrators held placards reading “Nature Is Our Gold,” “Leave Ardvin Alone,” Ardin Is an Armenian Sacred Site.”
One of the protesting villagers said in an interview with Epress.am that upon seeing the blocked entrance, officials from the Ministry of Nature Protection and MIRAM representatives attempted to enter the building through another entrance, which was also prevented by the demonstrators.
One of the villagers’ main concerns is that after the mine is put into operation, their communities will be deprived of drinking and irrigation water, which will inevitably hinder the locals’ agricultural activities. “Water will be cut off once they start blasting. Together with the former village head, we’d in the past go door-to-door, asking for help in providing the village with sufficient water. Who helped us? No one,” of the protesters argued.