Ban by Governorship Ahead of Sod-Turning Ceremony in Akkuyu

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Sod-turning ceremony of Akkuyu Nuclar Power Plant planned to be built in Mersin will be held with the participation of Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and President of Russia Vladimir Putin via teleconference.

Mersin Governorship imposed ban on demonstrations ahead of the ceremony. Speaking to bianet,  lawyer Sevim Küçük from Mersin Anti-Nuclear Platform said that their vehicles were stopped by police while they were heading towards the site, and they were warned that their vehicles would be pulled over if they attempt to drive further.

“Now we are trying to go there by public transportation. It is our right as citizens to go from one place to another”, Küçük said.

On the other hand, the bus carrying people going to the site was stopped by police. People started to march towards the construction site.

Construction license was granted yesterday

It was announced yesterday that the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) granted the license for construction of first unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant.

According to the statement issued by the TAEK, Akkuyu site was licensed by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1976 and the site report was approved in December 2013.

Council of State rejected, the case was sent to appeal

Council of State 14th Chamber rejected the objections made by TMMOB, TBB and TTB regarding the environmental impact report about the nuclear power plant planned to be constructed in Akkuyu. Lawyer Arif Ali Cangı said, “The Council of State has trivialized the environmental impact report with this ruling”.

Upon rejection, appeals were made to Council of State administrative case chambers for the execution to be suspended. (PT/TK)