We will not allow the plundering of Amulsar, if they do not listen, today's car rally will mark the beginning of peaceful civil disobedience: Shirak Buniatyan

Protesters against the exploitation of Amulsar held a silent action near the Ministry of Environment, after which they applauded to signal the end of the silent protest. Activist Shirak Buniatyan from Jermuk reported that when they started their car rally towards Yerevan, provocateur guards pushed their parked cars on the roadside and provoked a clash with citizens at the post located at Amulsar.

“Several of our residents were hit. At this moment, a large number of residents have gathered there. They did this to make us turn back midway and to prevent a protest here, but they miscalculated, because there are so many people standing next to Amulsar that we are here, and they are still there,” he said.

Buniatyan reminded that they had put forward two short-term demands, one of which has been met – the trailers have been removed, but the demand to remove those guards from the Amulsar area has not been fulfilled yet. According to him, “today we are reaping the fruits of this. I cannot even imagine what kind of clash there will be if we go back by car and see that provocation. I urge the authorities and the government to take measures to eliminate that provocation before returning to the residents,” he emphasized.

He reiterated that their demand is to revoke the permit for mining and metal industry in Amulsar. “We will not allow the plundering of Amulsar. We call on them to listen to us, otherwise today's car rally will mark the beginning of further peaceful civil disobedience,” he stated.

When asked if it is pointless to hold protests, given that there has been no response from the government for a long time, Shirak Buniatyan said, “I personally believe that eventually a democratic government will listen to us; I do not think they will ignore us forever.”