Armenia hosts COP17: The Amulsar gold mine undermines its biodiversity credentials
November 9, 2026
In 2026, Armenia will host the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 17), presenting itself as a global leader in biodiversity protection. However, just one week before the conference began, operations at the controversial Amulsar gold mine were launched, threatening the region’s biodiversity, including endangered species of wildlife, rivers and the Lake Sevan.
Armenia hosts COP17: Its ‘action for nature’ stops at Amulsar
October 20, 2026
Armenia is set to host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) from 19 to 30 October. Hosting this high-profile environmental summit has drawn scrutiny to the government’s simultaneous backing of the controversial Amulsar gold mine project at home. At COP17, progress towards the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be reviewed for the first time. The summit’s slogan is ‘Taking action for nature’, yet the Amulsar case illustrates how countries and international investors are ‘taking action against nature’.
Falling into the same trap: The EBRD’s intermediated exposure to the Amulsar gold mine
June 7, 2026
The EBRD’s indirect involvement in the Amulsar gold mine in Armenia through Ameriabank has raised concerns about compliance with its Environmental and Social Policy, due to unresolved legacy issues associated with the project.
The EBRD’s (ir)responsible exit from the Amulsar gold mine project in Armenia
May 29, 2024
The engagement of the EBRD in supporting the Amulsar gold mine in Armenia in its early stages resulted in adverse environmental, social, economic, and human rights impacts. The EBRD terminated funding to the client and exited the project, but the harm remains unremedied.
International groups stand in solidarity with Armenian environmental and human rights defenders facing defamation and criminalisation
February 20, 2024
In recent months, Armenian human rights and environmental defenders and organisations have been facing defamatory attacks in local media. They are increasingly being targeted through defamation, smear campaigns, intimidation and criminalisation for their peaceful, legitimate human rights work.
Civil society groups urge the EBRD to rethink mining investments
September 20, 2023
Twenty civil society organisations from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Mongolia, Uganda, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, as well as seven international environmental and human rights organisations, are calling on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to reconsider its approach to mining investments.
Armenia: NGOs reports show govt. & investors failed to prevent human rights abuses at Amulsar gold mine
August 8, 2022
Amulsar’s costs to human rights and threats to environmental defenders, 4 August 2022
Amulsar’s costs to human rights and threats to environmental defenders
August 4, 2022
Armenia’s government and investors have failed to prevent human rights abuses related to the Amulsar gold mine. As we await the outcome of an EBRD investigation, environmental and human rights defenders continue to face threats. New reports show how the policies that should protect human rights and environmental defenders have failed to stop a project whose costs outweigh the benefits.
Կանաչ լույս՝ ընդերքօգտագործողների համար. բնապահպանները չեն հաշտվում «Ընդերքի մասին» օրենսգրքում կատարված փոփոխությունների հետ
July 15, 2022
Բնապահպաններն ու իրավապաշտպանները շարունակում են պայքարել «Ընդերքի մասին» օրենսգրքում արդեն կատարված փոփոխությունների դեմ։ Նախագահը վերջերս …
Environmentalists Speak Out As Armenia Restarts Controversial Gold Mine
June 30, 2022
After years of indecision, Armenia appears to be preparing the way to resume the development of the controversial Amulsar gold mine project …
