Green Road Construction Restarts, 11 Life Defenders Detained

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Construction activities of “Green Road” project, which will connect highlands of Samsun, Bayburt, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Ordu, Rize, Trabzon and Artvin provinces with a 2,600-km road as part of developing tourism in the Black Sea, have resumed.

The first motion for stay of execution of the Green Road, whose official names is “Inter-Highlands Connection Road”, was granted in July 2015 as a result of the lawsuit filed by Environment and Ecology Movement (ÇEHAV).

Execution of road construction regarding 16,367-metersquare forestry area located between Kaçkar Mountains National Park in Çamlıhemşin and Haczane highlands was stopped by Riza Administrative Court.

The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA) Foundation had appealed to Council of State, Plenary Session of Administrative Law Divisions on August 24, 2015 and the Council of State had partially accepted the objection on October 15, 2015.

11 detentions

One of the life defenders, who headed for the area after Fırtına İnsiyatifi (Storm Initiative) announced that the Green Road construction restarted, Timur Danış has been detained. 11 people including life defenders and himself have been detained and taken to a police station by gendarmerie, according to the information that Danış provided. (HK/TK)