Day 83: Picketers' vigil stands toll on Lachin-Khankendi road

The peaceful protest of Azerbaijani eco-activists and NGOs on the Lachin-Khankendi road against the illegal exploitation of the country's mineral resources in the area of Russian peacekeepers' temporary deployment has been continuing for the eighty-third day.

According to Azernews, the rally participants arduously carry on protests against Armenia's illicit mineral resource exploitation.

Previously, following the talks with the Russian peacekeepers' command on December 3 and 7, 2022, a group of experts from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC were going to begin preliminary monitoring of the illicit mineral resource exploitation, as well as emerging environmental implications on Azerbaijani lands, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, on December 10, 2022.

The expert team was expected to inspect the environmental condition at the 'Gizilbulagh' gold deposit and the 'Damirli' copper-molybdenum deposit, monitor various areas, organize cadastral property records, assess potential risks and threats to the environment, as well as to underground and surface water sources.

However, the expert group, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, faced provocations when arriving in the monitoring area. The planned initial inspection and monitoring did not take place due to the fact that the Russian peacekeepers not only did not create necessary conditions but also prevented the entire process from carrying on.