We Demand to Keep the Amulsar Issue Free from Political Manipulation: Statement

A group of residents from the communities surrounding Amulsar held a protest in front of the government, during which they presented a message-demand directed to the Prime Minister and members of the government.

“Dear Prime Minister, esteemed members of the government, we represent the majority of residents of the communities surrounding Amulsar. Just two months ago, we submitted a letter with 1,200 signatures to the Government, but after receiving no response, we sent an open letter on July 22, which was disseminated through various media outlets. Judging by your silence, it creates the impression that you have forgotten that Amulsar and the surrounding areas are located within the territory of the Republic of Armenia and that you consider the raised issues to be internal matters of a foreign state and people.

We remind you that we are full citizens of the Republic of Armenia, all rights and obligations provided by the Constitution and laws extend to us as well, and you have committed to resolving our issues and ensuring our legal and social protection. We do not feel that the state wishes to solve our issues in a fair and legal manner. Moreover, we have doubts that the government is sacrificing us for the economic and political interests of certain individuals.

Our demands remain unchanged:

• We demand that individuals living around Amulsar be provided with dignified employment.
• We demand to keep the Amulsar issue free from political manipulation and resolve it exclusively within the legal framework.
• We request that the government take measures and immediately reopen the mining routes that have been blocked for two years by several dozen individuals, allowing mining operations to resume.
• We demand that the opinions of those who have illegally closed the mining routes not be accepted as the community's perspective; they do not represent honest, hardworking residents who are concerned about the community's fate. Moreover, there exist deep disagreements and tensions between these two groups, which could escalate into bloody clashes.
• We demand honesty and acknowledgment that, environmentally, the Amulsar mine exploitation project is the best in Armenia and exceeds all other mines by its standards.
• We demand you remain committed to your previous statements, in which you asserted that there are no legal reasons for not operating the mine.
• We demand to abandon a passive stance and engage with our issues. We exist, we are here.

Respectfully,

Residents of the communities adjacent to Amulsar,” the statement says.