Cases / Cyanide spill · Turkey · 2004
European court found Turkish permit for Bergama cyanide gold mine breached privacy
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2004 that the permit for a cyanide gold mine at Ovacık, Bergama, violated the right to respect for private life. The sources reviewed do not say whether the mine is operating today.
What?
A cyanide gold mine at Ovacık, Bergama, operated under a permit that the European Court of Human Rights found violated private life. European Court of Human Rights
Where?
Ovacık, Bergama, Turkey. European Court of Human Rights
When?
Court judgment on 10 November 2004; the sources reviewed do not date the mine's operation. European Court of Human Rights
Who?
Gained
None on recordLost
None on recordHarmed
- Residents who brought the case — The court found the permit violated their right to respect for private life European Court of Human Rights
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Cyanide gold extraction under a state permit that the court found in breach of private life rights. European Court of Human Rights
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled on 10 November 2004 that the permit for the cyanide gold mine at Ovacık, Bergama, violated the right to respect for private life.
The mine was reported to have operated despite a Council of State (Danıştay) annulment of its permit.
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2004-11-10Claimant wonJudgment on the Ovacık cyanide gold mine permitEuropean Court of Human Rights · Civil · Residents of Ovacık (applicants) → Turkey
The court found that the permit for the cyanide gold mine violated the right to respect for private life. European Court of Human Rights
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record The sources reviewed do not name the mine's operator, its current status, or the date of the Council of State annulment.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators✓ Courts— Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers
Courts
- Judgment on the Ovacık cyanide gold mine permit (Turkey)European Court of Human Rights · 2004-11-10
Connected cases
Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
- Kirazlı gold mine (Alamos Gold), Kaz Dağları, Çanakkale Türkiye · 2018–2026 Related matter
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- Government of Turkey (Government) — here: Granted the mine permit, per the court ruling; there: Host government party to the agreement
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- Council of State (Danıştay) (Court) — here: Annulled the permit; the mine was reported to keep operating; there: Court that issued the ruling
- Çeşme wind farm olive grove partly registered to Treasury despite 2014 halt Turkey · 2013–2014
- Council of State (Danıştay) (Court) — here: Annulled the permit; the mine was reported to keep operating; there: Stayed the expropriation in 2014
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- Government of Turkey (Government) — here: Granted the mine permit, per the court ruling; there: partial restriction in Turkey
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- Government of Turkey (Government) — here: Granted the mine permit, per the court ruling; there: Pays the pufferfish bounty
- Milas–Yatağan olive groves opened to mining (Law 7554, temporary article 45) Turkey · 2022–2026
- Council of State (Danıştay) (Court) — here: Annulled the permit; the mine was reported to keep operating; there: Council of State; annulled 2022 regulation amendment; stayed execution for about 194 parcels
- Turkish court annulls Loç Valley hydropower approval; 117 villagers on trial Turkey · 2011–2020
- Council of State (Danıştay) (Court) — here: Annulled the permit; the mine was reported to keep operating; there: Rejected the company's objection