The Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Condemned Armenia for Violating International Environmental Conventions

On August 16, as part of the ECOLEAD project "Strengthening the Environment: The Role of Awareness-Raising and Law Enforcement Measures," a scientific-practical conference on the topic "Environmental and Water Resource Violations to Stimulate Climate Change" is being held at the International School of Nakhchivan State University. Key figures from Azerbaijan's political and legal spheres, including Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev and the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Fuad Najafli, are participating in the event.

During the conference, Kamran Aliyev condemned Armenia for repeatedly violating international environmental conventions. "Armenia has constantly violated the requirements of existing international conventions," Aliyev said. He referred to Armenia's breach of obligations under the 1991 UN Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (ESPO), the 1992 UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, and the 1999 Protocol on Water and Health.

Aliyev emphasized the destructive impact of Armenia's actions on Azerbaijan's water resources, particularly in Eastern Zangezur. "As a result of Armenia’s aggressive policies, the population of Azerbaijan has been deprived of rich water resources for years," Aliyev stated.

Fuad Najafli, the representative of the president in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, also highlighted the detrimental impact of Armenia’s mining industry on Azerbaijan's environment. Najafli pointed to the ongoing pollution of the Araz River, where toxic metal waste continues to flow, damaging local fauna and flora. "Many species of plants and animals are now threatened with extinction," Najafli said. He added that recent incidents, including the mass death of fish in the “Lion Arch” area of the Sadarak region, underscore Armenia’s continued disregard for environmental protection.

ECOLEAD is a joint platform created by the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and Baku State University (BSU) in Azerbaijan. Its primary mission is to investigate environmental crimes and prevent violations through collective efforts. This initiative aims to address environmental issues, particularly in the post-conflict regions of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, by involving experts from various fields, including law enforcement and ecology.