A protest was organized Thursday in front of the Armenian government building against the exploitation of Amulsar gold mine.

“We have come to remind the international community that protecting nature is inseparable from human rights.

Target 22 of the Kunming-Montreal Global [Biodiversity] Framework emphasizes respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, access to justice, and protection of environmental rights defenders. But what value do these principles have when the indigenous Armenian people of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] have been forcibly displaced from their homeland?

Armenia’s nature and water resources are threatened by Amulsar and other mining projects. Armenian prisoners continue to be held in Baku [the capital of Azerbaijan].

There are serious concerns in Armenia about politically motivated imprisonment.

COP17 [i.e. the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to be held in Yerevan soon] should not become an international showcase to cover up real issues.

Join our peaceful protest. Our voice must be heard by the whole world," the protest organizers said in a statement.