Amid widespread outrage and mass protests following the killing of Reşit Kibar during a demonstration against a controversial picnic area project in the Cankurtaran (Çhala) region of Artvin, the developer, Yapı-Soy Beton, announced its withdrawal from the project. However, local residents remain sceptical about the company’s commitment to abandoning the plan.
Protesters, led by civil society and legal groups, declared this a victory for those defending nature and vowed to continue their struggle against similar threats.
A protest was held in Hopa (Khopa) of Artvin, Turkey, on Tuesday evening following the fatal shooting of Kibar. The protest, organised by political parties, civil society organisations and trade unions, saw thousands march from Hopa Park to Metin Lokumcu Square. The attacker, allegedly linked to a government-backed company, opened fire on demonstrators.
Kibar was shot dead, and two others, Ersan and Gökhan Koyuncu, were injured when Muhammet Ustabaş, who had won the tender to clear the forest for a picnic area project, opened fire on locals attempting to stop the tree cutting. The incident took place in the early hours in the Cankurtaran region on Tuesday.
During the march, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Reşit Kibar is immortal”, “Murderers will be held accountable”, “This is just the beginning, the struggle continues”, “There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us”, “Forests and rivers are not for profit”, and “Justice and Development Party (AKP), hands off our nature”.
Speaking at Metin Lokumcu Square, Artvin Bar Association Chair Ayla Varan expressed her deep sorrow, saying, “I am truly devastated. I feel like I can’t breathe; my heart is bleeding. I was one of the lawyers who handled the first quarry case in this region, and I’ve known Reşit since then. When the court ruled in favour of the region in the quarry case, it effectively said, ‘Do not touch this nature.’ However, court decisions are increasingly disregarded in our country. Despite the court’s rulings, new projects with different names are repeatedly pushed forward.”
Varan criticised the state’s failure to protect lives, stating, “A group, which I do not hesitate to call an armed gang, who obtained a state contract, has committed a heinous act by gunning down our friend, who only sought to protect his nature, his living space, and his village. This has resulted in one death and two injuries. The state’s incompetence in protecting life here is evident.”
She also vowed to follow the legal process closely: “If there were security personnel there, where were they at that moment? Everyone knows the villagers are unarmed—at most, they might have sticks. Why was no security measure taken? We will ask this question, both during the judicial process and beyond. We will be following the case. My deepest condolences to all of us. My heart bleeds, but we will always stand by you. Know that I, and our bar association, will support you until the end of this process.”
Nur Neşe Karahan, President of the Yeşil Artvin Association, condemned the violence, saying, “This area is not to be sacrificed for profit. We are witnessing a period where the entire country’s lands are being sacrificed for profit. Those who destroy nature for profit have now started taking lives with hired killers. We will not surrender our country and the lands we live on to hired killers. We stand against them and the forces behind them. We will never leave the people of Cankurtaran alone. The struggle is one; we will continue it together.”
