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A group of young Armenian activists yesterday paid a visit to Lake Gosh to get acquainted with the activities conducted in the lake area on the spot.

“The only encouraging fact that we witnessed was that the forester was working at the area,” Armen Avagyan, member of “Save Gosh” initiative said at a livestream of RFE/RL's Armenian Service.

In his words, they saw whatever has been conducted in the lake area. “The area is in a total destruction. The sludge with a height of over two meters was lying along the coast with rooted out trees and branched over it.

At the meeting, the minister [of Natural Protection] assured that no logging had been carried out; only decayed trees were removed from the lake.  Yesterday we witnessed a completely different situation: it turned out that on its way to the lake the technique had cut down all the trees that were disturbing. In all the other cases, those big trees were simply rooted out. We have evidence that contradict the minister’s words.

The activist added that the machinery was removed from the lake area.

Member of the same initiative Sofia Hovsepyan noted that all the activities carried out in the territory are leading to a situation when artificial actions are carried out by disturbing the natural environment likely to launch fish farming or something else.

“All that will disrupt the natural environment and us, the tourgoers. The tourist flows to that area was high, as they visited Lake Gosh to see what was created purely by the nature. The foreign tourists proposed us to take them to the lake. Today they will witness barbarism should they be taken to Lake Gosh,” she said.

In her words the saddest thing is that once again actions have been carried out without any public discussion over the project.

“I think they will be prudent and will deprive the company of its license, as an illegal activity was conducted,” S. Hovsepyan underscored.

A. Avagyan presented the key demand of the initiative, which is bringing the perpetrators to responsibility; even if the law allows the construction of eco cottages, they must be located 50 mentors from the lake area not to disturb the panorama.

To note, environmentalist-activists have recently voiced about the illegal earthworks conducted at the territory near Gosh Lake. The lake is located in the area of Dilijan National Park, which has been given for lease to 'Vendor' LLC in order to establish a resort zone and to deliver services there. The studies conducted in the area revealed that 'Vendor' LLC has carried out dry wood and trash cleaning works, which are currently suspended in the territory. Studies are underway.

The young activists held a private meeting with Armenia’s Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan on April 15, briefing on their demands.