"We, Azerbaijanis living abroad, express our support for the protests carried out by representatives of numerous NGOs operating in Azerbaijan, demanding an end to the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed, and the environmental tension that has arisen in the region," the State Committee said in a statement. 

The statement reads: "Protecting the environment is the duty of every person, regardless of nationality. We, the Azerbaijanis living abroad, are seriously concerned about the worsening of the environmental situation in the territories under the control of the Russian peacekeeping contingent temporarily stationed in our motherland, Azerbaijan.

Against the backdrop of climate change and water resource depletion, which are of serious concern at the international level, we believe that the actions of a group of criminals in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which systematically harmed the environment, stem from ethnic hatred against Azerbaijanis - Azerbaijanophobia. We consider the creation of conditions for illegal activity by the Russian peacekeeping contingent temporarily stationed in the mentioned areas and the inability to prevent systemic environmental terrorism to be an indication that the command of the peacekeepers is under the influence of a group of criminal oligarchs.

As Azerbaijanis living abroad, we join the rightful voice of our compatriots and demand that the safety of Azerbaijani environmental activists be ensured to the Gyzylbulag gold deposit, the Damirli copper-molybdenum deposit and other deposits to investigate the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Azerbaijani territories where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed and the resulting environmental consequences.

Until our demands are fulfilled, Azerbaijanis living abroad will also hold regular actions of support to show solidarity with our compatriots."

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