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Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office appeals to OECD and Council of Europe on Armenia’s ecological crimes

01 August 2023 15:57 (UTC +04:00)

The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan has lodged a complaint with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD and the Council of Europe regarding the environmental crimes committed by Armenia, the Office told APA.

The appeal reads:

“An investigation is currently underway at the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan concerning the intensive pollution of the Araz and Okhchu rivers in the bordering region with Armenia.

The intensive pollution caused by the large mining enterprises of Armenia, such as the Qajaran copper-molybdenum and Qafan ore processing plants of the transboundary river Okhchuchay, the construction of a large metallurgical plant in the village of Yeraskh (Arazdayan) without consultation with the Azerbaijani side, and the violation, at the same time, of environmental protection norms necessitate the implementation of additional measures.

In light of this, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan has addressed the letter to the Economic Cooperation and Development Organization and the Council of Europe.

The complaint highlights the importance of compliance with the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, the Espoo (Environmental Impact Assessment) Convention, environmental protection requirements, the regulations for the proper organization of the operation of mining facilities, and the importance of cooperation with the official authorities of our country in determining the environmental damage caused.”