Displaced Artsakh Armenians and activists protest outside COP17 summit in Yerevan
Yerevan, Armenia · Oct 28, 2026
Is it still on?
NOIt was a one-day action on Oct 28.
Last report · checked
The Tea in three lines
- Why they are protesting
- Displaced Artsakh Armenians protested because they were denied exhibition space at the UN biodiversity summit while Indigenous rights were discussed.
- What they want
- They demanded a dedicated exhibition space, the release of Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan, protection of heritage, and safe return guarantees.
- What changed
- Oct 28, 2026: Displaced Artsakh Armenians and activists staged a protest outside the UN biodiversity summit venue in Yerevan.
Both sides
What protesters want
- Provide exhibition space for displaced Artsakh Armenians at COP17
- Release Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan
- Protect Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh
- Provide international guarantees for the safe return of displaced residents
What authorities say
Armenia's Ministry of Environment stated that the proposed activities by the organizations representing displaced Armenians did not fit the conference's environmental agenda. COP17 organizers also refused to provide a separate pavilion for Artsakh civil society organizations according to reports.12
The full story
Displaced Artsakh Armenians and activists staged a demonstration outside the United Nations biodiversity summit at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan. The protest occurred after organizers turned down applications from two organizations representing displaced Armenians for exhibition space at the conference, with Armenia's Ministry of Environment stating their activities did not fit the environmental agenda. Demonstrators performed traditional music and dances, prepared regional flatbread, and displayed photographs of Nagorno-Karabakh. They drew attention to the displacement of over 120,000 ethnic Armenians following Azerbaijan's 2023 military offensive, questioning why their community lacked a dedicated pavilion at a conference discussing Indigenous peoples' rights. Participants also called for the release of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan, protection of cultural heritage, and international guarantees for safe returns.
Timeline
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