Eco-protest on Khankendi-Lachin road lasts 102 days Demands unchanged

The protest on the Khankendi-Lachin road against the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits in Azerbaijan's Karabakh economic region has been going on for 102 days.

Eco-activists, as in the first days of the protest, are very active. They invariably demand an end to environmental terror in the Azerbaijani territories, Report informs.

The action, which began on the morning of December 12 last year, continued on the night of March 23. The protesters demonstrate firm will and perseverance.

During the action, safety rules are observed, and no incidents were recorded during the night.

Eco-activists as traditional started the day with the performance of Azerbaijan's national anthem.

Volunteers and NGO representatives taking part in the action, without interfering with the movement of vehicles in both directions, chant slogans: "Azerbaijan is the owner of its resources!", "End to environmental crimes!", "Stop eco-terror!", "Take care of nature!", "No ecocide! Yes to monitoring."

The protesters' security is maintained at a high level by the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry's Internal Troops servicemen and the police present on the territory.

Following the talks with the commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022, a delegation consisting of specialists from the ministries of economy, ecology and natural resources, the State Committee on Property Issues and the mining company AzerGold was to conduct preliminary monitoring of the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits on the territory of Azerbaijan, where peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, as well as related environmental and other problems. However, due to the peacekeepers’ inactivity, the monitoring did not take place.