Protests by Azerbaijani environmental activists on Lachin road reach 100 days

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Azerbaijani environmental activists on Tuesday have been protesting on the road connecting the cities of Lachin and Khankendi in the Karabakh region for the past 100 days.

Activists began their protest against Armenia's exploitation of natural resources in the Karabakh region on Dec. 12, 2022, and started their 100th day of protests by singing the Azerbaijani national anthem and patriotic songs, later chanting slogans.

On Dec. 11, Azerbaijan sent a diplomatic note to Russia concerning the "illegal exploitation" of natural resources in the liberated Karabakh region, as its officials were prevented from entering the area a day before.

The statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said illegal exploitation and looting of natural resources were observed, especially in the Kyzylbulag gold and Demirli copper-molybdenum mines.

It added that negotiations were held between the two sides and an agreement was reached on Dec. 10, but still officials from Baku were prevented from visiting the area.

Since then, Armenia has claimed that the Lachin road is being obstructed by the Azerbaijani environmentalists, a claim that Baku has denied by noting that vehicles belonging to the Red Cross and the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in the region have used the road without hindrance on a daily basis.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.​​​​​​​

In the fall of 2020, in 44 days of clashes, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages, and settlements from Armenian occupation. The Russian-brokered peace agreement is celebrated as a triumph in Azerbaijan.