Bikers hold a rally against exploitation of Amulsar gold field

On August 26, in Armenia, about 20 bikers organized a motocross race from Yerevan to Amulsar. They wanted to support activists who blocked the roads to the Amulsar gold field.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late June, a dispute around the Amulsar gold field resulted in the blocking of roads. Local residents believe that gold mining at the field will lead to an ecological catastrophe.

The action against the exploitation of the gold field was organized by the initiative group "Armenian Environmental Front". In Yerevan, bikers gathered in Republic Square and started from there to the gold field.

The activists say that the exploitation of the Amulsar gold field will cause great damage to the environment. In particular, as a result of the works, underground and surface waters will be polluted, while a significant part of all Armenian water resources is located on the territory of the gold field, the activists stated.

According to Samvel Ovannisyan, one of the participants of the motocross, the action is organized "in the name of rescuing Amulsar," and "the bikers thus expressed their solidarity with the activists fighting against the exploitation of the gold field."

"This is not only the problem of local residents. It concerns every citizen of the country," Samvel Ovannisyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 26, 2018 at 05:24 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.