In Armenia, ecologists want to judicially ban mining uranium

In near future, ecological organizations plan to go to court in order to challenge the decision of Armenian government about exploration of uranium ore in the Syunik Region. Now they gather the necessary documents for filing a collective lawsuit.

Arthur Gazaryan, an activist of the non-governmental organization "For Environmental Security and Democracy Promotion", told journalists that ecological organizations are going to continue their consistent struggle against exploration and possible operation of uranium mines in the Syunik Region in the southeast of Armenia.

In particular, 10 environmental NGOs plan to go to court with a claim to annul the decision of the government. Mr Gazaryan expressed his concern that, despite mass protests of the population and claims of ecological organizations, the works of geological exploration of uranium ore continue.

Inga Zarafyan, another activist of the anti-uranium movement and chair of the NGO "Ecolur" said that the above region already operates the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum, Agarak Copper-Molybdenum and Kapan Ore-Dressing Combines, while opening of a uranium mine will essentially increase the risk of environmental contamination. According to her story, studies of the "Ecosphere" Centre at the National Academy of Sciences show that radioactivity of the earth surface in the region exceeds the permissible level by more than 3.5 times.

The public of Syunik is decisively against the uranium programme in Armenia. Local NGOs, the Board of Elders of Kapan and residents of this city are collectively protesting against it.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported earlier that on November 11 the city of Kapan, Syunik Region, located in southeast of the country, hosted a rally against exploration of uranium, allowed by the decision of the government.

Let us remind you that the contract about a joint Armenian-Russian venture for geological exploration, extraction and processing of uranium in the territory of Armenia was signed in February 2008. In April 2009, the Armenian government provided the Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) "Armenian-Russian Mining Company" with a five-year permit for exploration of uranium ore in Armenia. The company is currently conducting field explorations.