Your trusted source

The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) government has decided to suspend operations at its sole functioning ore mine run by a private company, Base Metals, due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia.

In a statement on Wednesday, the government reaffirmed that mining industry in Artsakh had operated in line with the highest international standards.

“Nevertheless, taking into consideration the unhealthy environment created by the "eco-activists" of the neighboring country and their attempt to mislead the international community, it has been decided to invite international organizations to carry out an international ecological examination around the operations of Base Metals company,” it said.

“Together with the management of the company a decision was taken to temporarily halt the exploitation of the main by the company. The government of the Artsakh Republic has approached the UN respective structures and other specialized international organizations to organize the examination in the shortest period of time.

“The Artsakh Republic government has always been in favor of maintaining best international standards in the mining sector and believes that international ecological standards shall be applicable for mining companies in the entire region,” reads the statement.