Azerbaijan Launches Environmental Attack Against Armenia: Politico

The reputable European publication "Politico" has addressed the actions of Azerbaijani "eco-activists" and the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. The publication also discussed Azerbaijan's lawsuit against Armenia in the International Court regarding pollution of territories, violations of the Berne Convention, and so-called environmental issues.

"Politico" writes, "Azerbaijan is opening a new front against Armenia, one that includes not tanks and missiles, but legal documents and claims of environmental harm. This is not the first time Azerbaijan has used environmental issues as a political tool to receive compensation or to assert territorial demands."

Azerbaijan's lawsuit against the Republic of Armenia is the first inter-state arbitration under the European Convention on the Conservation of Wildlife and Natural Habitats, known as the Berne Convention. "In the last two years, we have found shocking evidence of environmental damage in areas liberated during the 2020 war," said Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mamedov to "Politico." He noted, "We have two objectives: first, to achieve legal recognition of these violations and draw the international community's attention, and second, to seek compensation and restoration of damage."

The publication also quoted representatives of Armenia, which confirmed to "Politico" that it had received notification of the arbitration under the Berne Convention, but insisted that the lawsuit contradicts the spirit of the treaty. Armenian representatives stated, "We regret that Azerbaijan has chosen a competitive process under an international document aimed at promoting cooperation among states in the preservation of wild fauna and flora and their natural habitats."

They added, "Armenia is concerned, as Azerbaijan’s approach—unrelated to the goals of the Berne Convention—could have harmful effects on the region’s environment, which has already suffered significantly due to Azerbaijan’s aggressive wars over the past two years."

"A number of international observers, noting that few of the protesters have any evident ties to environmental activism and that the state often represses domestic dissent, assert that the protesters are being led by the Azerbaijani government. However, Baku denies all of this," the article stated.

Nevertheless, ethnic Armenians in Artsakh assert that Azerbaijan is using environmental issues to increase pressure on them and strengthen Baku's control over the region.