Azerbaijani prosecutor: Armenian metallurgical plants polluting Araz River

Prosecutor of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Sanan Pashayev has said that the Araz River is being polluted by waste discharged from both nuclear power plants and various metallurgical enterprises operating in Armenia.

Pashayev made these remarks at a scientific and practical conference on "Environmental Water Violations Contributing to Climate Change", Caliber.Az reports.

"The Araz River is contaminated by waste from the Armenian nuclear power plants and metallurgical enterprises. There are areas in close proximity to the Araz River, as well as numerous settlements, agricultural lands, and pastures. This pollution poses a big threat to the health and lives of the population, the economy, and agriculture of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic," he noted.

Highlighting the presence of underground, surface, and border water resources in Nakhchivan, Pashayev emphasised that enlightenment is being conducted across all districts to prevent the overuse of water resources.

The Araz River, originating in Türkiye’s Bingol Mountains and traversing through the borders of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Armenia before merging with the Kura River and flowing into the Caspian Sea, plays a significant role in sustaining the natural ecosystem of the South Caucasus.

The river directly impacts the health of 20 million people, most of them in rural and urban settlements in the provinces of west and east Azerbaijan, Ardabil, and Gilan in Iran, as well as some habitations in the southern regions of Azerbaijan and Armenia.