Residents of Jermuk Address Prime Minister Pashinyan in an Open Letter

The residents of the consolidated community of Jermuk have addressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in an open letter. This was announced during a rally against the exploitation of the Amulsar mine.

The letter states: “Dear Mr. Prime Minister, We, the residents of the consolidated community of Jermuk, who have halted the operations of the gold mine in Amulsar for over a year with our immediate physical presence, request a meeting with you as a matter of urgency. We consider it important for you to be aware of the crisis situation prevailing here and to take immediate steps towards its resolution.”

“The just expectation from the revolution was that our voice would be heard, and the Amulsar project, which threatens the development of Armenia, would be immediately halted. Understanding that the current government has inherited countless issues from its predecessor, and recognizing the complexity of the mining industry issue, we have, through community efforts, suspended the mine's operations. Had this not been done, the project would have inevitably entered a phase that would have had irreversible consequences for both our community and Armenia. With this, we created an opportunity for the state to buy time, to familiarize itself with all aspects of this multifaceted issue, and to find the best solution to this crisis for the people.”

“Two days ago, the investigation by the Investigative Committee was also published, which noted numerous deficiencies and errors in ‘Lydian’s’ EIA, the only legal consequence of which should have been the suspension of permits granted to ‘Lydian Armenia’; however, the opposite occurred.”

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister, we trust that you stand alongside the community that has placed its trust in you and that you protect the public's interests, which are opposed to the interests of corporations regarding Amulsar. We trust you and are confident that once informed of the reality, you will not hesitate to make the decision to halt the Amulsar project.”

“Mr. Prime Minister, we would like to emphasize that the fight for the preservation of Amulsar includes all Armenians. Unfortunately, the struggle over Amulsar may be used by counter-revolutionary forces against your led government and the achievements of the revolution. We have had no ties with these forces and have pushed back their attempts to exploit our struggle.”

“It is very important for us to meet with you. We kindly ask you, as you had promised during the election campaign in December, to come to Jermuk and discuss the findings of the Investigative Committee with us. It is extremely concerning that the police have taken action on ‘Lydian’s’ application and have made a decision to initiate criminal proceedings against us.”

“Residents of the Jermuk consolidated community - Protectors of Amulsar.”

Let us remind you that currently, the residents of Jermuk have gathered at the taxi stop square in the city and are waiting for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. They are looking to receive answers to their questions from the Prime Minister.