Epress.am News from Armenia
6 citizens of Jermuk community and 13 citizens of Gndevaz community addressed a demand to the Minister of Nature Protection to annul the positive conclusion given to the Environmental Impact Assessment of Amulsar gold mine project.
The Ministry did not react in a due manner, therefore 19 community members, as represented by their attorney Nazeli Vardanyan, lodged a suit with the Administrative Court of Armenia against Minister of Nature Protection Erik Grigoryan, with the Ministry of Finances as a third party. The claim is to annul the EIA permit (N BP 35 environmental assessment positive conclusion and ministerial approval of it of 29.04.2016) due to newly emerged ecological circumstances.
The first court hearing took place on February 4, 2019 during which the representative of the Ministry of Nature Protection motioned to suspend the trial as there is a criminal case at the Investigative Committee of Armenia. The motion was rebutted by Nazeli Vardanyan who claimed that the criminal case had nothing to do with the case under consideration of the court and should be declined by the court. Judge Artsrun Mirzoyan adjourned the hearing as the representative of the Ministry of Nature Protection did not have the decision of the criminal case instigated at the Investigative Committee at hand.
The next court hearing is scheduled in April 8, 2019.