On 20 August, a motor rally from Jermuk to Yerevan with the participation of about 250 people took place, announcing the beginning of a series of protests against the construction of the Amulsar gold mine.
According to the protesters, the Armenian government is ignoring Amulsar mine situation, despite the massive protests. “With such actions we are trying to get them to react to our demands, the main one of which is to withdraw the document with the environmental impact assessment, which officials gave the 'Lydian Armenia' Company. We will continue our protests until the authorities react to our demands,” said civil activist Teimine Yenokyan. Another Armenian environmental activist Levon Galstyan said that the residents of Jermuk have been left out of the decision-making mechanisms and want to have their violated rights restored. “[The] matter [here] concerns rights and… some laws, especially those written under the previous corrupt government,” he said.
The renewed tensions surrounding the Amulsar project in Armenia began on 1 July, when civil activists and residents of Jermuk had a dispute with the Armenian police over an agreement that was reached with the new security organization in Amulsar. This agreement expected that the organization would leave the area (Caucasus Watch reported). On 4 August, the exploration company Lydian Armenia replaced local residents’ trailers who were on duty at the approaches to Mount Amulsar with their own. After that, opponents of the mine's exploitation organized a mass protest action, blocking the road leading to Jermuk. Lydian Armenia published an official statement, saying that the company would “continue to fight to restore its legal rights, despite all the forces that are trying to thwart-through illegal actions-the country's largest and most exemplary investment” (Caucasus Watch reported). On 12 August, Open Democracy reported that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) investment in the Amulsar project, worth $400m, ended. Lydian responded by saying that “the EBRD and other shareholders have ceased to be part of the Amulsar project solely as a result of continued lawlessness in Armenia” (Caucasus Watch reported).
