Video: Debed River Turns Gray as Citizens Raise Alarm

The head of the Community Mobilization and Support Center, Oleg Durgaryan, published 2 videos on his Facebook page along with a post stating: “SOS... Today farmers from the villages of Ptghavan and other areas along the Debed River in the Tavush region have reported that since 4 AM, the river has taken on a gray hue, indicating that mining waste has mixed into the water. The villagers are unable to irrigate their orchards. This situation has been continuously recurring over the past weeks. On July 25, farmers from Chochkan village also alerted that they have been waiting since 7 AM for the pumping station to divert water from the Debed River to the fields; however, employees at the pumping station did not start operation, waiting until 10 AM for the water to clear before commencing the pumping work, and this has gone on for weeks. It is evident that waste is being dumped into the river during late night hours.

Since this morning, I have traveled along the riverbed from Akhtala to Ayryum, checking for pollution from all possible sources, but all the locations I visited were already clear. It seems that the leakage into the river begins after 1 or 2 AM due to human factors, and specifically intentional actions. As a result, we have hundreds of farmers and villagers whose crops are spoiling and contaminating under pressure, the trees are dying, and the health of children and people is being harmed. This is an unacceptable and negligent state of affairs, and it cannot continue like this. Residents of the riverside villages in the Debed area of the Novayberan community are preparing complaints and will have to do more. And you want more mines? Well, you will get it!”