The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Türkiye must pay a total of 945,000 euros to 315 residents of Bergama and nearby villages in Izmir province, finding violations of two articles of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The case centered on permits granted to Eurogold Madencilik to prospect for and extract gold at Ovacik village. The company received prospecting rights in 1992, and the Environment Ministry approved full mining operations in 1994 following an environmental-impact assessment. Residents challenged the permits, arguing that the cyanide leaching method used posed serious risks to public health, local water supplies, and the surrounding ecosystem.
The court found unanimous violations of Article 8, covering the right to private and family life, and Article 6, the right to a fair trial. On the Article 6 finding, judges determined that Turkish authorities had failed to comply in a timely manner with rulings issued by Izmir Administrative Court in October 1997 and upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court in April 1998.
Each of the 315 applicants will receive 2,000 euros for non-pecuniary damages, with an additional 5,000 euros awarded collectively to cover legal costs. The original application was lodged with the court on 1 November 1998.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2006, in its own words.