Ahead of COP17, the Artsakh Human Rights Council held a protest in front of the Armenian government

ArmInfo. The Artsakh People's Rights Protection Council held a protest in front of the Armenian government building ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).

The protesters drew attention to human rights violations in Armenia, environmental threats, and the destruction of Artsakh's cultural heritage, as well as the authorities' attempts to present a distorted picture of the country to the international community. Protesters arrived at the government building with posters reading, "Nature Above Profit," "Stop Mining at Amulsar," and "Stop Poisoning Our Land."

During the protest, in conversations with journalists, the participants stated that Armenia is currently facing a profound crisis of democracy and serious environmental threats, yet instead of addressing these issues, the authorities are organizing international events in an attempt to distort reality and conceal what is happening in the country. They emphasized that in the current circumstances, it is especially important to convey their position to the international community, even if it is not ready to hear it.

"It is important to tell them: it is impossible to drown out the voice of justice with the noise of populism. Peace can only be established on the basis of dignity and justice, and not on the basis of even greater pressure on a people who have been subjected to ethnic cleansing. You cannot talk about democracy to the world when threats are being made within the country to kill someone or smash them to pieces. The people know your true colors, and the time has come to reveal them to the world," Artsakh Public Council member Nare Simonyan said during the rally.

In turn, Artsakh Cultural Heritage Ombudsman Hovik Avanesov noted that hosting COP17 in Armenia is an important opportunity to remind the international community of Azerbaijan's policies towards Artsakh, including the destruction of cultural heritage and the environmental consequences of military actions. According to him, more than 1,000 cases of vandalism have been recorded in Artsakh since 2020. "More than ten villages have been completely destroyed, along with their cultural and historical landscapes. International organizations must speak openly about these facts, as silence means complicity," the NKR Cultural Heritage Ombudsman emphasized.

He also recalled the use of prohibited weapons (white phosphorus ammunition - ed.) by the Azerbaijani side during the war, which had a negative impact on biodiversity in the region. According to Avanesov, ignoring the environmental consequences of military actions and the destruction of cultural heritage is evidence of double standards on the international agenda.

Protesters gathered outside the government building began chanting "Shame on the Armenian government!", accusing the authorities of lies, human rights violations, and falsifications. They also questioned whether climate action entails arresting opposition members, emphasizing that caring for nature begins with treating people well. During the protest, the protesters also raised other issues facing Armenia that are being ignored by the current authorities.

As a reminder, the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) will be held in Yerevan from October 19 to 30, 2026.