SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, January 23. Conditions have once again been created for the passage of a convoy of Russian peacekeepers [temporarily deployed in Azerbaijan], consisting of one passenger car, two military vehicles and ten supply vehicles along Azerbaijan's Lachin-Khankendi road near Shusha, Trend reports from the scene.
Free passage of the above vehicles has been ensured. Totally, conditions for the passage of 18 vehicles have been created this morning.
This once again proves that humanitarian vehicles can pass freely through the peaceful protest area, and there are no obstacles for them.
The peaceful protest of Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the Lachin-Khankendi road against the illicit exploitation of Azerbaijan's mineral resources in the area of Russian peacekeepers' temporary deployment has been going on for over forty days.
Previously, following the talks with the Russian peacekeepers' command on December 3 and 7, 2022, a group of experts from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC were going to begin preliminary monitoring of the illicit mineral resource exploitation, as well as emerging environmental implications on Azerbaijani lands, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, on December 10, 2022.
The expert team was expected to inspect the environmental condition at the 'Gizilbulagh' gold deposit and the 'Damirli' copper-molybdenum deposit, monitor various areas, organize cadastral property records, assess potential risks and threats to the environment, as well as to underground and surface water sources.
However, when arriving in the monitoring area, the expert group, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, faced provocations. The planned initial inspection and monitoring did not take place due to the fact that the Russian peacekeepers not only did not create necessary conditions but also prevented for the entire process to carry on.
