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από soshalkidiki
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By The Associated Press - Nov.
30, 2018
THESSALONIKI, Greece — A Greek
court on Friday acquitted 21 people accused of raiding prospective gold mining
facilities that some see as a welcome foreign investment but many local
residents strongly oppose on environmental grounds.
About 40 masked people
attacked the facilities at Skouries in the Halkidiki peninsula in northern
Greece in February 2013. They allegedly assaulted security guards and set fire
to machinery and offices.
The court in the northern city
of Thessaloniki found there wasn't sufficient evidence to convict the
defendants, all of whom had denied any wrongdoing.
"There are indications of
guilt for defendants, but events also came up which refute these indications
and create doubts as to the guilt," presiding judge Vassilis Stefos said.
"However, full proof of guilt is required" for a conviction.
The charges had included
attempted murder, possession of explosives, arms offenses and forming a
criminal organization.
The mining facilities, owned
by Canada's Eldorado Gold, have split Halkidiki residents. Many welcome the
jobs that the gold and copper mine would bring, while others say it would
destroy the environment and pristine forests, harming tourism and other local
sources of revenue such as farming, livestock rearing and fishing.
Protests broke out in the
area, with tear gas and firebombs used and residents trading accusations with
the company about heavy-handed reactions and the use of violence.
Friday's decision was greeted
with cheers in the courthouse, which was packed with friends and supporters of
the defendants from the Halkidiki villages of Ierissos and Megali Panagia.
A defense lawyer, Giorgos
Kyritsis, said the ruling fully justified his clients.
"It was clearly proved
that the charges were fabricated," he told The Associated Press.
Eldorado Gold acquired the
Skouries site in 2012 and started construction work a year later with a view to
operating it as an open pit and underground mine.
But long delays with permits
and licenses from Greek authorities led to a temporary suspension in
development, and in 2017 Eldorado Gold placed the site in a state of care and
maintenance.
soshalkidiki | 01/12/2018 στο 21:34 | Κατηγορίες: in
English, Δημοσιεύματα | URL:https://wp.me/p2S4tW-3ca
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