On December 3, 2022, a group of experts from the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy and AzerGold CJSC held talks with the Chief commander of the peacekeeping contingent of Russian Federation on illegal exploitation of mineral deposits, as well as on environmental and other secondary consequences in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan where the said contingent is temporarily deployed. Following these talks authorities of Azerbaijan mentioned the necessity to create of a working group on assessment of risks and potential damage to the environment, underground and surface water sources and elimination of the consequences of the damage, to hold on-site inspection of all mineral deposits, including Gizilbulag gold and Demirli copper-molybdenum deposits, and to prevent from illegal exploitation, monitoring and inventorying in various directions. Notwithstanding the agreement reached with Russian contingent the representatives of Azerbaijan were later denied to visit these two areas where minerals are illegally exploited.

So, on December 12, Azerbaijani environmental activists started a protest on the Shusha-Lachin road against new illegal activities in the mines located in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. It is worth to mention that during the 30-year long occupation of the Azerbaijani territories neighbouring Armenia has implemented different kind of illegal economic activities including exploitation of minerals (non-ferrous and ferrous metals), mineral waters, as well as other potable water resources to name a few. Involvement of a number of foreign companies in such illegal activities, including "Base Metals" ("Vallex Group"), "GeoProMining", "GoldStar" and others, is of particular concern.

Azerbaijan strongly rejects the baseless statements of Armenian sources blaming Azerbaijan in the latest situation on the Shusha-Lachin road and distorting the obligations within the framework of the reached agreements. First, it should be noted that the Lachin road was partially closed not by Azerbaijani protesters, but by the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation temporarily deployed in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Second, Azerbaijan is ready to facilitate humanitarian needs of the Armenian community of Azerbaijan. The issue of the rights and security of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is an internal matter of Azerbaijan. Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and the rights and security of the residents of Armenian origin living in this region will be ensured in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan fulfils its obligations in full, and strongly demands that Armenia also complies with its obligations. Azerbaijan, the initiator of the peace agenda, is not interested in the creation of tension in the region. Azerbaijan ensures the security and integrity of its territories on legal grounds.

The failure of Armenia to fulfil the provisions of the Statement signed by the leaders of the three states on November 10, 2020, especially the failure to withdraw Armenian armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan in violation of the paragraph 4, abuse of the Lachin road for military provocations, as well as for illegal economic activity in violation of the paragraph 6, and obstructing the opening of all transport communications in the region in violation of the paragraph 9 was stated by Azerbaijan on numerous occasions.

It is Armenia that violated all norms and principles of international law, kept territories of Azerbaijan under occupation for nearly 30 years, over the night perpetrated massacres against hundreds of civilians in Khojaly, as well as in other cities of Azerbaijan, forced out nearly one million Azerbaijanis from Armenia and the territories of Azerbaijan it occupied, and still does not withdraw its illegal armed groups from the territories of Azerbaijan after the end of the occupation, and still continues military, as well as the landmine threats. Transportation of landmines produced by Armenia in 2021 to territories of Azerbaijan, the continuation of purposeful planting of landmines in the territories of Azerbaijan are one of the main threats to the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work carried out in the post-conflict period, to the civilian population working in these areas, as well as to the return of internally displaced persons and to their peaceful life in their homes. As a result of Armenia's ongoing provocations, since the end of the 2020 Patriotic War, 268 citizens of Azerbaijan have become victims of landmine explosions, and 45 people, including 3 journalists, have died. 35 of the 45 killed were civilians.

Armenia should stop statements and actions against sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan as well as against peace agenda strongly advocated by Azerbaijan!