Armenian NGOs condemn 'aggressive campaign' against environmental activists
A group of Armenian civil society organizations (NGOs) condemned the ongoing pressure on environmental organizations, activists and human rights defenders as “anti-democratic”.
"For a long time now, environmental activists, organizations, human rights defenders and residents of affected communities who oppose harmful mining projects have been facing pressure,” they said in a joint statement released late on Tuesday.
The NGOs pointed to hate speech, insults, slander and statements by some government officials targeting environmental activists and organizations.
“Some mining companies and their beneficiaries are engaged in campaigns advancing false agendas and narratives, alleging that Armenian environmental organizations cater for the interests of Azerbaijan,” they said.
“The aggressive campaign against environmentalists which actually targets the disgruntled population of the affected communities makes it obvious that its authors themselves are giving voice to the fake eco-activists of the neighboring dictatorial country who blocked the Lachine Corridor and strangled pigeons death, putting their foolish talk at the core of their campaign.
“The Aliyev regime's narratives regarding the processes taking place in our country and the renewed manipulation of our years-long criticism against the reckless exploitation of Armenia's natural resources are unacceptable to us,” reads the statement.
A total of 28 organizations joined the statement, including the Green Armenia Environmental and Educational NGO, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center NGO, EcoLur Informational NGO, Human Rights Research Center NGO, Forests of Armenia Environmental NGO, Helsinki Human Rights Association NGO, Protection of Rights without Borders NGO and others.
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