France’s uranium waste sparks crisis at Armenia-Azerbaijan flashpoint

The article reports on a controversy involving France’s state-owned nuclear company Orano, which is accused of transferring uranium-containing radioactive waste to Armenia near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The waste shipments began in June 2025 and were deposited in Dilijan National Park, a protected area in the Armenian highlands that lies within a seismic zone and is close to the headwaters of rivers flowing into Azerbaijan. Environmental groups, particularly the Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition, have condemned the move as an “ecological war against Azerbaijan,” warning that any leakage could severely impact public health, biodiversity, and water security in the downstream Azerbaijani districts. The radioactive waste reportedly originated from Orano’s previous storage partner in Siberia, but geopolitical tensions and sanctions cut access to Russian facilities, prompting France to seek new disposal options. The deal with Armenia allegedly followed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Paris in early 2025, accompanied by controversial financial donations to a foundation led by