Environmental Coalition sounds alarm over ecological degradation near Armenia’s Pambak River

The Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition has issued a stark warning over what it describes as an escalating ecological disaster unfolding around Armenia’s Pambak (Debed) River, citing alarming evidence of environmental violations linked to the Akhtala and Alaverdi mining operations.

In a strongly worded statement, the coalition referenced recently published photos and videos by Armenia's epress.am news outlet, which document the presence of toxic wastewater basins believed to be the result of industrial activities from nearby mines, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The EPF Coalition described the footage as “another alarm signal,” highlighting systemic non-compliance with environmental regulations and a lack of rehabilitation efforts in the affected zones.

“These publicized facts once again show that Armenia’s mining industry activities endanger the entire region,” the coalition warned, commending the Armenian NGO Community Resistance and Contribution Center for bringing the issue to light and for its continued efforts to safeguard environmental and public health in surrounding communities.

The coalition further pointed to the state-owned arsenic-laden waste landfill near the Alaverdi mine, criticizing Armenian authorities for their inaction. “It is evident from the available data that no meaningful environmental measures are being undertaken, despite the clear hazards posed by the waste site,” the EPF stated.

The coalition called for immediate international oversight, inviting the Community Resistance and Contribution Center and epress.am to coordinate an expert-led monitoring mission involving both regional and international environmental specialists. The EPF expressed its readiness to deploy its own professional experts to conduct on-site evaluations of Armenia’s mining enterprises.

Moreover, the coalition reiterated its appeal to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, urging him to heed civil society’s demands and grant access to an international monitoring delegation—including Azerbaijani ecologists—to inspect the country’s mining facilities.

In a related concern, the Armenian Ecological Front recently posted on social media about the severe decline of the Dastakert mining settlement, noting that the population has plummeted from several thousand to just 200 residents. The Environmental Protection First Coalition's digital map, which tracks environmentally hazardous mining operations across the South Caucasus and Caspian Sea regions, attributes the Dastakert mine’s operations to Molibdeny Ashxarh LLC.

The EPF Coalition continues to sound the alarm over the transboundary ecological risks posed by unchecked mining activities in Armenia, emphasizing that regional cooperation and transparency are vital to mitigating long-term environmental damage.

By Vafa Guliyeva