Despite concerns raised by international human rights organisations over the treatment of environmental human rights defenders during COP17, reports of intimidation and surveillance continue. The “My Heart Is in the Highlands” initiative, together with a number of civil society organisations, has issued a joint statement calling on the Armenian authorities to end all forms of pressure against environmental human rights defenders and to respect their fundamental rights and freedoms.
The concerns were also highlighted in an urgent appeal published on 23 October 2026 by Front Line Defenders, an international human rights organisation founded in Dublin in 2001 whose primary aim is to protect human rights defenders at risk. The appeal addresses restrictions imposed on women environmental human rights defenders from the “My Heart Is in the Highlands” initiative during COP17, as well as reported incidents of intimidation.
According to the urgent appeal, on 19 October, police prevented participants in a peaceful action from displaying placards near the entrance to the COP17 Green Zone and instructed them to move to a less visible area. Organisers also reported threats to confiscate or destroy placards and photographs, including materials held by children.
On 21 October, members of the initiative reported increased monitoring by law-enforcement and security officials.
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Further incidents were reported on 25 and 28 October.
Late in the evening of 25 October, at approximately 22:00, Nare Aramyan, who was returning home, and three members of the “My Heart Is in the Highlands” initiative found Aramyan’s car surrounded by police officers and other law-enforcement personnel in civilian clothing. The attention directed at the car appeared to be due solely to the presence of placards inside the vehicle. The reported incident has raised further concerns that surveillance of the initiative extends beyond the official COP17 programme and into its members’ private time.
On 28 October 2026, between 15:00 and 16:00, large numbers of police officers monitored a cultural event organised by Armenians from Artsakh at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex. Police officers stood in a tight line in front of the stairs, apparently seeking to prevent participants from entering the Green Zone, although the participants had expressed no intention of doing so. The gathering aimed to remind the international community and the Armenian authorities that, within the framework of the COP17 meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Armenians of Artsakh are deprived of their right to live in their natural environment.
On the same day, during an event in the COP17 Green Zone, environmentalist Levon Galstyan took a microphone to ask a question. Two police officers attempted to prevent him from speaking by demanding that he hand over the microphone. They withdrew only after participants voiced their objections.
In its urgent appeal, Front Line Defenders calls on the Armenian authorities to end the harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders, ensure their safety, and guarantee their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
The continuation of reported incidents of intimidation despite international attention raises serious concerns about the safety and freedom of environmental human rights defenders. Hosting an international biodiversity conference places a particular responsibility on the Armenian authorities to uphold the principles of peaceful participation, freedom of expression and respect for civil society.
In their joint statement, the “My Heart Is in the Highlands” initiative and a number of civil society organisations call on the Armenian authorities to remain committed to democratic principles, respect the rights and freedoms of environmental human rights defenders, and end all forms of pressure, harassment and intimidation against them.
The statement remains open for additional signatories.
Read the Front Line Defenders urgent appeal
“My Heart Is in the Highlands” initiative
