The Amulsar gold mining project in Armenia became a focal point of environmental and social controversy due to the serious threats it posed to local livelihoods and ecosystems. The use of cyanide in gold extraction endangered the Arpa and Vorotan rivers, as well as Lake Sevan—a critical water resource in the region.
In March 2020, CEE Bankwatch and Armenian civil society organizations filed a complaint with the Secretariat of the Bern Convention, alleging violations of natural protected areas near Amulsar. The Secretariat recommended to the Armenian authorities to stop any development that could negatively affect habitats and species protected under the Convention.
In June 2020, 23 local residents, supported by national and international civil society groups—including the CEE Bankwatch Network—filed a formal complaint with the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism. The complaint pointed to non-compliance with EBRD standards, environmental risks, the exclusion of affected communities from decision-making, growing social tensions, and harm to cultural heritage.
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