Civil society organizations worldwide, including those in Armenia, have voiced serious concerns about the country's mismanagement of ecological resources, urging the government to address the environmental crisis and cooperate with NGOs, Azerbaijani MP Parvana Valiyeva stated during a briefing organized by the Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition, Report informs.
Valiyeva criticized Armenia's lack of cooperation with Azerbaijan and other impacted nations, stating that this raises doubts about its commitment to environmental transparency and obligations:
"One of the most alarming examples of environmental degradation is Armenia's Dastagird mine, which has devastated the surrounding ecosystem. The city of Dastagird, once home to 6,000 residents, is now almost abandoned, with fewer than 200 inhabitants remaining. Mining in the Bazarchay basin releases heavy metal-laden particles into the Hakari and Araz rivers."
She emphasized that the environmental impact extends beyond Armenia and Azerbaijan, affecting neighboring countries such as Iran, Türkiye, and Georgia. She noted: "Türkiye has raised concerns about pollution from the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, while Georgia has voiced alarm over the contamination of the Pambak River, which carries toxic chemicals from Armenia into Georgian territory."
Referring to a recent report from Iran's environmental newspaper Payam-e ma, Valiyeva revealed high concentrations of 59 heavy metals, including aluminum, arsenic, and lead, in the Araz River: "The primary source of this pollution is believed to be Armenia's mining operations. Along the riverbanks, health issues such as a rise in stomach cancer cases are being observed."
Valiyeva also cited widespread deforestation, unsustainable logging, and hydroelectric construction as contributing factors to Armenia's ecological mismanagement.
“Furthermore, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has documented severe damage to Azerbaijan's protected forests—some of which contain ancient trees over 2,000 years old. The UNEP report also highlighted water and soil contamination linked to mining activities during Armenia's occupation, with certain fish species in the Okhchuchay River either facing extinction or already dead,” she added.
