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The Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) has filed a defamation lawsuit against Oleg Dulgaryan, chairman of the Center for Community Mobilization and Support NGO, seeking a denial and compensation, Dulgaryan said in a statement on Thursday. His full statement is provided below.

"In Armenia, the trend of mining companies filing civil lawsuits against environmental activists and human rights defenders under accusations of defamation persists, taking on new dimensions and shades. The act of filing lawsuits against environmental activists and human rights defenders, has been repeatedly characterized by civil society organizations and international human rights networks as a distinct form of pressure and persecution. It is seen as an attempt to silence eco-activists and residents of mining-affected communities through legal actions.

And now, it is my turn. The Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine CJSC, which is part of the assets of the Russian GeoProMining company group, and where the Armenian Government is also a shareholder, filed a civil lawsuit in court, seeking a denial and a sum of 6,000,000 AMD (approximately 14,000 euros). Such legal processes are characteristic of only non-democratic countries and societies. I am confident that in Russia, the history of suppressing free speech and activists started with civil lawsuits against human rights defenders, later escalating to criminal cases and long-term imprisonment.

In essence, such processes strengthen us, and I am certain this is one of those instances. It is worth noting that in 2023, the same company filed a similar lawsuit against environmental activist and journalist Tehmine Yenokyan.

I believe that civil society and the international community will provide their assessment of these proceedings.

Democracy and social justice remain the unequivocal choices for Armenia."