(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Sabina Mammadli read more A peaceful protest near Shusha by Azerbaijani eco-activists, NGO
representatives has entered the sixth day, Azernews reports.
The rally participants demand the arrival of Gen Volkov of the
Russian peacekeeping contingent, the establishment of conditions to
monitor the illicit exploitation of the country's mineral
resources, and the cessation of Armenia's environmental terrorism
on Azerbaijani lands.
The protesters also call for the border and customs post set-up
in the Lachin direction of the border with Armenia, as well as the
interdiction of arms smuggling into Azerbaijan.
Earlier, the protesters laid out the inscription 'Stop
eco-terror' from candles, chanting the same slogan.
On Friday the protesters expressed support for the servicemen of
the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan, who were replaced at their
post.
Since December 12, Azerbaijani eco-activists and representatives
of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been protesting near
Shusha against the failure of the Russian peacekeepers in the
region to provide unimpeded access of Azerbaijani experts to
monitor the illicit exploitation of the country's mineral
resources.
The pickets on the Khankandi-Shusha section of the road are
urging the Russian peacekeepers to prevent the separatists and
their foreign patrons from brazenly plundering Azerbaijani mineral
resources. The current situation in the area is a direct result of
the Azerbaijani public dissatisfaction with illegal economic
activities, theft of natural resources, and environmental damage to
the territory of Azerbaijan.
What has led to the current state of events is growing public
discontent over a plethora of issues, such as the misuse of the
Lachin road; the shady business ties of Ruben Vardanyan, the
so-called“first minister” of the regional separatists with Maj-Gen
Volkov, the commander of the Russian contingent.
More specifically, following discussions with the command of the
Russian peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022,
Azerbaijani specialists from the Ministries of Economy, Ecology,
and Natural Resources, the State Service for Property Issues under
the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold Company were to conduct
primary monitoring on illegal exploitation of mineral deposits on
Azerbaijani territory. However, the monitoring failed due to the
provocation of local Armenians.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @sabinammdl
Follow us on Twitter @azernewsaz
Tags: karabakh protests russian peacekeepers