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Police officers barred environmental activists protesting against Amulsar gold mine, owned and operated by Lydian Armenia, from entering the government building in Armenian capital.

Demonstrators insisted on entering the government sessions hall and presenting the findings of their own study on the environmental impact assessment of the mine operation to the government members.

The protest comes after Armenia’s Investigative Committee on Wednesday published the results of an audit conducted by Earth Link & Advanced Resources Development on the Amulsar gold mine project, concluding that the exploitation of the gold mine does not cause any significant danger to the environment and there are no grounds for criminal proceedings against the company.

The report clears way for the company to continue developing the gold mine blocked since June last year by locals and environmental activists, who claim that the operation poses great environmental risks.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s aide Nairi Sargsyan stepped in and promised to convey the written calls and demands of protesters to Pashinyan, however environmental activists insisted on meeting the PM in person and sharing their concerns with him.

The PM’s aide left, promising to contact protesters after talking to Pashinyan, but did not mention specific timeframes.