Azerbaijan's civil society appeals to international organizations over Armenia's air and water pollution
Civil society organizations operating in the Republic of Azerbaijan appealed to the United Nations (UN) and the international community over the environmental disasters committed by the Republic of Armenia that poses regional and global impacts on Earth’s ecosystem (Evidence and Substantiated Facts is attached).
SİA informs that the appeal reads:
The ongoing mining operations in Azerbaijan borders by Armenia have resulted in the degradation of the ecosystem, posing a significant threat not only to Armenia's environment but also to neighboring countries. The environmental damage caused by mining activities has a transboundary impact, jeopardizing the health and well-being of communities both in the region and beyond.
Non-transparent and non-accountable exploitation process in the mining industry in Armenia harms people and the environment, given its far-reaching implications and the threat it poses to human health, the environment, and true sustainability. Highly toxic chemical waste exposed from industries pollutes almost all transboundary watercourses. This environmental impact affects human health and safety, flora, fauna, soil, air, and water structures.
The concerning prospect of discharging this waste into the Araz river gives rise to worries regarding the impact on the river's wildlife and the extensive farms dependent on Araz water for irrigation. The potential harm to the drinking water supply poses risks to human health and water safety, which could result in the spread of infectious diseases in border villages. This situation has the potential to create a severe public health crisis for both Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Currently, Armenia receives grants from European Union within the EU4Environment: Green Economy in Eastern Partnership Countries program for the development of green industry. We recall the European Union to ensure that this financing is utilized for its intended purpose and not for activities that destroy nature and ecological imbalances in the region.
Armenia violates international environmental norms and standards and many of the UN Conventions on Environmental Assessment as its signatory part, including the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and international lakes, the Protocol "On Water and Health", the UN Economic Commission for Europe Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous waste, the UN Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, the UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention), the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Transboundary Rivers Convention and etc.
We know that the United Nations and international organizations listed below play a crucial role in addressing environmental issues and can provide assistance in dealing with environmental concerns caused by Armenia. We believe they can facilitate diplomatic negotiations and dialogues between the affected countries to address the environmental challenges. They can act as mediators to foster dialogue and cooperation in finding mutually beneficial solutions, as well as can offer technical expertise by conducting environmental assessments by involving international NGOs and civil society representatives from countries in the region (including NGOs from Georgia and Azerbaijan) to understand the extent of the damage and potential solutions. We appeal to these organizations to exert pressure on Armenia to uphold the existing environmental conventions. We request them to ensure compliance with international environmental norms by monitoring the operations of industries.
The appeal was sent to the following international organizations:
United Nations Secretary-General
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
UN Women
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment
UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights
UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change
European Commission
European Council
European Parliament
European Environment Agency
Council of Europe
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Friends of the Earth
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)
Greenpeace
Evıdence And Substantiated Facts
The Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum combine in Gajaran and the mining complex in Gafan in Armenia are responsible for releasing mining wastes containing heavy metals into the Okchuchay and Araz rivers, which flow across the borders of Iran and Azerbaijan. The Artsevanik reservoir, spanning 270 million square meters and serving as the mine tailings pool, poses a substantial risk to the entire region.
Furthermore, the Gutgum (Qeganush) mining waste deposit in Armenia, covering an area of 4.6 million square meters within the Gafan mining complex, presents a significant threat to the region. The mining waste containing heavy metals from the Akarak (Agarak) Copper-Molybdenum combine further contaminates the Araz River through the Karchivanchay river, exacerbating the pollution issue.
The ongoing operations at the Dashdam Gold Mine in Goyce (Sevan), where approximately 10,000 ounces of gold are processed annually, have led to continuous pollution and the toxic wastewater contaminates nearby rivers, including the Barghushad (Vorotan) River, which serves as a crucial source of fresh water. The Barghushad River, in turn, flows into the transboundary Araz River.
In the Lori region of Armenia, the Akhtala mine produces around 5 thousand tons of copper and lead per year, leading to pollution of the nearby Tona (Debed) River. The Tona River then flows into the Kur River. The Akhtala mine was closed in 2017 by the government according to the pressions by civil society, Eco activists of Armenia due to environmental concerns but was unfortunately restored for operation in 2020.
The Gafan Manganese Plant responsible for the production of manganese ore, manganese dioxide, and other manganese products, with an annual output of approximately 1.5 million tons of ore significantly pollutes the nearby Barghushad River, which serves as an important source of drinking water for the South Caucasus region. These pollutants contribute to various health issues, including respiratory problems, neurological diseases, and cancer.
The Ellar (Gotayq) metallurgical plant, which engages in the production of copper, zinc, and lead, is responsible for contaminating the Arpachay River which serves as a vital source of drinking water with heavy metals such as copper, lead, and cadmium. This has a detrimental impact on human health, primarily through significant air pollution that includes sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
The Goyche (Gegharkunik) Copper Smelting Plant, processing approximately 100,000 tons of copper annually, emits significant quantities of sulfur dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. This leads to air pollution and the occurrence of acid rain. Similar to the Ellar plant, the Goyche Copper Smelting Plant also discharges its wastewater into the Arpachay River, the main source of drinking water. As a result, pollutants carried by the Arpachay River eventually reach the Araz River.
The construction of a sizable metallurgical plant in Arazdeyan (Yeraskh) that disregards environmental regulations and international conventions must be halted. The potential impact of toxic chemical waste from this plant on the local ecosystem is potentially immense. This contamination of drinking water supplies also increases the risk of infectious diseases spreading in border areas, creating a significant public health crisis affecting both Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The mining wastes containing heavy metals resulting from the operations at the Amuldagh (Amulsar) gold deposit significantly accelerate the erosion process in the Caucasus mountains. The wastes of the deposit are being discharged into the Araz river through Bargushad (Vorotan) and Hakari rivers. The deposit is also situated in the area between the Arpachay and Bazarchay rivers, both of which flow through Azerbaijan's territory. This industry represents a serious hazard to the Caspian Sea basin through Kura river which joins with the polluted Araz river. As a result, it causes significant ecological damage not only to Azerbaijan but also to Iran and other Caspian countries.
According to the report on the complaint submitted by 4 dominant Civil Society Organizations operating in Armenia to the Standing Committee of the Council of Europe Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats on February 28, 2023, the leopard remains critically endangered after the area of Amuldagh (Amulsar) gold mine started to be exploited. According to the Distribution and Status of the Persian leopard in the Caucasus Ecoregion research article, leopards appear to be threatened predominantly by fragmentation of habitat patches intensified by socio-economic development and politically challenging conditions.
The sewage water from the industries mentioned above negatively impact aquatic life, and poses a grave environmental threat to both the ecosystem and human beings.
The mining industries in Armenia violate the majority of environmental norms and standards, as well as UN Conventions, including:
1. The UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and international lakes - the Helsinki Convention, adopted on March 17, 1992, focuses on safeguarding and utilizing shared water bodies and international lakes. The convention recognizes that any significant adverse impact on the environment resulting from changes in transboundary waters, caused by human activities, falls within the jurisdiction of the involved parties. However, Armenia violates the rules and modalities of this Convention by its committing environmental damage to transboundary watercourses.
2. The Protocol "On Water and Health", a component of the UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, strongly emphasizes preserving water ecosystems and preventing, controlling, and decreasing water-related diseases. To accomplish its objectives, parties participating in the protocol must establish national and local targets for drinking water quality, discharge quality, and the efficiency of water supply and wastewater treatment systems. As the signatory part of the protocol, Armenia does not follow its commitments with its mining operations that damage transboundary watercourses and lakes.
3. The UN Economic Commission for Europe Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous waste; the overarching objective of the Basel Convention is to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes. As the supporting part of the Convention, Armenia violates its objectives by damaging the environment with hazardous wastes from the above-mentioned mining industries.
4. The UN Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution provides a framework for international coordination of air pollution policy. Ratification and implementation of the Convention and its protocols aim for many Parties, to reduce health and environmental impacts in a more cost-effective way than with unilateral action. To date, Armenia has not introduced a level of negotiation playing field for the mining industry.
5. The UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) is one of the documents violated by Armenia. The Espoo Convention acknowledges that environmental matters transcend national borders and emphasizes the necessity of international discourse when multiple states are involved in specific cases. The construction by Armenia on the border without mutual agreement from the Azerbaijani side constitutes a blatant violation of the 1991 Espoo Convention, which addresses the assessment of environmental impact in transboundary contexts.
6. By committing these environmental crimes, Armenia violates the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, especially the 3rd on "Good Health and Well-being", the 6th on "Clean Water and Sanitation", the 12th on “Responsible Production and Consumption”, and 16th on the "Climate Change the 13th on "combating the consequences of climate change" and the 15th on "Protection of the Earth 's Ecosystem".
7. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights set out a framework for promoting responsible behavior in business, including the mining industry. These principles emphasize the need for companies to protect human rights, prevent negative environmental impacts, and communicate with affected communities in a transparent, inclusive manner. We also call on the companies to acknowledge the aforementioned risks and cease their support to the mining industry that have tremendous negative environmental impacts.
8. The Aarhus Convention plays an important role in ensuring access to information, public participation, and justice in environmental issues. As a signatory to this convention, Armenia must fulfill its obligations by ensuring that the population of the affected region has access to information on mining activities, participation in decision-making processes, and ways to eliminate environmental damage.
We call upon the UN and international organizations to respond to the ongoing committed environmental catastrophes listed above, considering violation of the international norms and principles to ensure put an end to Armenia's ongoing environmental transgressions.
The appeal was signed by the heads of the following NGOs:
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Fund for Assistance to Development of Entrepreneurship and Market Economy |
Sabit Bagirov |
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“Support to Health” Public Union |
Parvana Valiyeva |
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“Hope” Support to Social Development Public Union |
Israyil Iskandarov |
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Azerbaijan Women's Rights Protection Society named after D. Aliyeva |
Novella Jafarova |
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Environmental Education and Monitoring Public Association |
Gamza Yusubova |
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“Legal Analysis and Research” Public Union |
Ramil Isgandarli |
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“Experts in the Field of Water Use” Public Association |
Amin Mammadov |
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"Priority" Socio-economic Research Center Public Union |
Zaur Ibrahimli |
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Constituition Research Foundation |
Alimammad Nuriyev |
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Civil Study and Development Public Union |
Gunel Safarova |
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Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League |
Sahib Mammadov |
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“Regional Human Rights and Media Center” Public Union |
Khalid Kazimov |
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“Protection of Human Rights and Legality” Public Union |
Saltanat Gojamanli |
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“Caspian Barrel” Oil Research Center |
Ilham Shaban |
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"Development of Society and Civil Relations" Public Union |
Ahmad Abbasbayli |
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"Azerbaijan National Section of the International Society for Human Rights" Public Union |
Saadat Bananyarli |
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Democracy və Human Rights Committee |
Chingiz Ganizada |
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"Healthy Development and Education" Public Union |
Anar Khalilov |
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“Scientific Research” Public Union |
Telman Gasimov |
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“Green World” Ecological Education Public Union |
Elman Jafarli |
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“Biosphere” Public Union |
Gorkhmaz Ibrahimli |
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Socioeconomic and Ecological Development” Public Association |
Rahila Mehtiyeva |
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“Sky and Eco” Public Association of Support for Social Economic Development |
İrada Hasanova |
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"Shafag" Ecotourism Public Union |
Vamiq Babayev |
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“Towards a TB-free Future” Public Association |
Chingiz Ramazanli |
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Hemophilia Patients’ Public Association |
Ayaz Huseynov |
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“Children of Azerbaijan” Public Union |
Kamala Agazada |
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“Muvakkil” Law Center Public Union |
Samad Vakilov |
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"Health Protection" Public Union |
Yazgul Abdiyeva |
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