Three women to face prosecutor over Skouries protest
Three women from Halkidiki, northern Greece, were expected to face a local prosecutor on Wednesday for allegedly trying to obstruct a mining vehicle from approaching a gold mining site located in the area of Skouries. The women, aged 25, 39 and 40 aged were arrested on May 12.
There has been mounting tension in the area in the wake of the mining project managed by Hellas Gold, a company which is 95-percent owned by Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold.
While Hellas Gold claims that the mine could directly and indirectly create about 5,000 jobs, residents argue that the work site would destroy Skouries forest and put at risk their economic prospects by damaging the area’s potential to attract visitors.
