The protest took place against Cengiz Holding’s plans to open a copper mine in Cerattepe, which is located near the city center of Artvin. The company, through its subsidiary Eti Bakır A.Ş., had restarted the EIA process despite the Constitutional Court ruling in favor of Artvin’s residents and the Rize Administrative Court suspending the mining activities. This new move by the company reignited tensions among locals, who had previously forced the cancellation of similar meetings. As the meeting unfolded at the conference center, locals arrived and immediately exited the hall, shouting slogans against the project.
“Don’t Confront Us with Another EIA”
Yeşil Artvin Association’s president, Neşe Karahan, led the protest, emphasizing that Artvin’s people have been fighting for 30 years to stop mining and protect their livelihood. She condemned the company’s decision to restart the process despite the court rulings, calling it an insult to both the law and the people. “They have essentially re-submitted the same EIA report, even expanding the area. From top to bottom, landslides have started to trigger across Artvin, just as was warned before. Despite legal victories that prohibit mining in the area, we absolutely reject this renewed EIA process,” Karahan declared.
“We Will Be Remembered as the Resisters”
Karahan vowed that their struggle would continue with even greater determination. She highlighted the increasing frequency of landslides throughout Artvin, warning that the consequences of mining in Cerattepe could be disastrous. “Artvin’s people know from their 30-year struggle how catastrophic mining activities in Cerattepe would be. Holding meetings with company employees and supporters in a packed hall is neither legal nor acceptable. This is not merely an EIA meeting; it’s a deliberate attempt to sow discord and hatred among the people of Artvin and Murgul. The true goal is to destroy both the environment and the people of Artvin, eventually eradicating the entire region. We will go down in history as those who defended Artvin for our children and grandchildren, while you will be remembered as those who sold out their future for money,” Karahan concluded.