Enter day three: number of Azerbaijani protesters near Shusha growing (PHOTO)

SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, December 14. The number of
Azerbaijanis joining the protests of local non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) near Shusha, close to the post of Russian
peacekeepers temporarily stationed there [in accordance with a
trilateral statement signed between Azerbaijani, Armenian and
Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], is
increasing, Trend
reports from the scene.

The people who newly joined the protests have also demanded the
arrival of the peacekeepers’ commander General Andrey Volkov and
chanted slogans calling for an end to environmental terror [illegal
exploitation of mineral deposits by Armenian residents in
Azerbaijani territories].

Representatives of the NGOs have been protesting for the third
straight day.

Previously, following the negotiations with the Russian
peacekeepers’ command on December 3 and 7, 2022, a group of experts
from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State
Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC
on December 10, was going to begin the preliminary monitoring in
accordance with the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits, as
well as the emerging environmental and other consequences of this
on the territory of Azerbaijan.

It was planned to inspect the environmental conditions at the
‘Gizilbulagh’ gold deposit and the ‘Damirli’ copper-molybdenum
deposit, monitor various areas, organize cadastral property
records, assess potential risks and threats to the environment, as
well as to underground and surface water sources.

However, despite the group’s arrival, accompanied by Russian
peacekeepers, in the monitoring area, it faced provocations. The
planned initial inspection and monitoring did not take place due to
the fact that the Russian peacekeepers not only did not create
necessary conditions, but also prevented for the entire process to
carry on.