Armenia: villagers protesting against wood-felling unblock the road

A temporary agreement has been reached among the mining company "Valex Group" and residents of the villages of Tekhut and Shnokh, who had blocked the road to the enterprise in protest against the company's activities. The road was unlocked, the civil initiative group "Let's Save Tekhut" has reported.

On July 5, villagers of Tekhut and Shnokh, Lori Region, blocked the road running to the Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) "Tekhut" and refused to let the employees of the "Valex Group" to the enterprise. Villagers stand against felling the surrounding forests, air pollution, noise, made by trucks, as well as against the demand to pass passport control on the way to the nearby temple.

As a result of negotiations held by the locals with the officials of the "Valex Group", the latter promised not to create obstacles for local residents on their way to the temple and the cemetery. The villagers, in their turn, agreed to unblock the road.

The talks took place on July 5 with the mediation of Arthur Nalbandyan, the Governor of the Lori Region, a member of the initiative group "Let's Save Tekhut" told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.