Working discussion of the MSG Civil society and mining companies' constituencies on the legislative draft package on the provision of land use rights at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure

On December 12, 2025, a working meeting of the Civil Society and Extractive Constituencies of the EITI Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) was held at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. The meeting was organised at the initiative of the Ministry, in implementation of the instruction issued at the October 30, 2025 meeting of the EITI MSG, chaired by Tigran Khachatryan, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and Chair of the MSG.

In accordance with the instruction, prior to the adoption of the relevant decisions, the draft legislative package aimed at simplifying the procedures for granting land use rights and acquiring land was to be discussed once again at a working level. During the October 30 MSG meeting, members of the MSG Civil Society and Extractive Constituencies had raised concerns and presented observations regarding the package.

Asatur Vardanyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and a member of the MSG Government Constituency, had invited colleagues to submit their comments on the draft in writing via the e-draft platform prior to the working discussion.

The meeting was attended by EITI MSG members Asatur Vardanyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure; Nazeli Vardanyan, Director of “Forests of Armenia” Environmental NGO; Viktorya Burnazyan, Vice President of EcoLur Informational NGO; Aram Osikyan, General Director of “ASSAT-M” LLC; Armen Stepanyan, Director of Sustainable Development at “Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine” CJSC; Artur Pepanyan, Director of Sustainable Development at “Lydian Armenia” CJSC; Nerses Karamanukyan, Director of “AGAPE” LLC; and Hasmik Manukyan, EITI National Coordinator.

The meeting was also attended by Seryozha Grigoryan, Adviser to the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure; Karen Gasparyan, Head of the Ministry’s Subsoil Department; Seda Hakobyan, Head of the Policy Development Division; and Artur Grigoryan, an environmental law specialist invited by the Civil Society Constituency.

At the beginning of the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure presented the substance of the proposed legislative amendments and the objectives they sought to achieve. The working discussion then followed.

Following a comprehensive discussion of the arguments presented by both sides, it was agreed that the MSG Extractive and Civil Society Constituencies would submit their specific proposals to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure in writing, with a view to incorporating them into the legislative initiative, where deemed appropriate.