Some MPs Have Been Visiting and Encouraging Wrongdoers for 2 Years: Open Letter

The initiative group "Amulsar Mine" has issued an open letter addressed to the MPs on behalf of the residents of the communities near the Amulsar mine, which we present below.

"Dear lawmakers, we, the residents of the communities near the Amulsar mine in Vayots Dzor and Syunik regions, are reaching out to you. Just two years ago, we had the opportunity for a prosperous and dignified life in our communities. We had jobs, and thanks to Amulsar, new businesses were being created, and social programs were being implemented. For more than two years, we have been deprived of the opportunities that Amulsar provided because a group of people have decided to present themselves as 'environmentalists' and 'scientists', acting on behalf of the community they do not represent.

We find it incomprehensible why various MPs support those committing illegal actions. After all, representatives of the legislative body should protect the law. Thousands of residents in our communities have been unlawfully deprived of jobs, and the roads to Amulsar are unlawfully closed. Instead of supporting the community, some MPs—both from the ruling and opposition parties—have visited and encouraged wrongdoers for two years.

How many times have the MPs visited the residents of these communities, who have been deprived of their legal right to earn a living? We demand that the legislative body also fulfill its role as the guardian of the law and not be guided solely by political interests. You are playing with the destinies of thousands of people in these communities, the future of this region, and the reputation of the country.

Amulsar has no significant environmental issues. It has long become a political problem and an opportunity for political dividends for some. We call for sobriety and to stand by the law and the real interests of these communities and the country."