EPL continues its legal fight to preserve Runa mountain meadow. This time, in another court case that directly concerns the implementation of plans to build a wind farm in one of the most valuable natural regions of the Ukrainian Carpathians.
This is case No. 260/1284/25, which the developer – Turyansky Wind Park LLC, initiated against the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. The plaintiff is appealing the Order of the Ministry of Environment No. 101 of January 22, 2025, which suspended the administrative proceedings regarding the issuance of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) conclusion for the construction of a wind farm on Runa mountain meadow.
When issuing the Order, the Ministry of Environment was guided by the fact that another case is being considered in the Transcarpathian District Administrative Court – No. 260/5885/24, in which EPL is appealing the decision of the Turye-Remetiv Village Council to approve the detailed territorial plan (DTP) of Runa mountain meadow. This plan is the spatial basis for implementation of the wind farm construction project.
On March 24, 2025, at our request, the Transcarpathian District Administrative Court decided to engage the International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” into the case No. 260/1284/25 as a third party that does not assert independent claims on the side of the defendant – the Ministry of Environment. Since then, EPL has been actively participating in the consideration of the case, which is being heard in written proceedings, and has already submitted its written explanations. The final decision in the case is pending.
In the explanations provided, we emphasize that the appealed order is an interim procedural decision, not a final administrative act. It was adopted with the aim of temporarily refraining from decisions that may contradict results of the DTP court case. Such an approach complies with the legislation and does not violate the rights of the plaintiff.
Despite the fact that environmental impact assessment procedure was suspended, construction works on Runa mountain meadow are going on. Large-scale works are already underway at the site of the planned wind farm: site preparation, road construction, and felling of valuable forests, including elements of virgin forests. This is happening without a completed environmental impact assessment procedure, which is a gross violation of the law. As previously reported, EPL has appealed to the prosecutor’s office with this regard.
We are convinced that the development of renewable energy is important and strategic for Ukraine but it must take place exclusively within the framework of the law, with respect for the environment, mountain ecosystems and the rights of communities. Green energy should not harm nature.
In addition, we would like to emphasize that the court proceedings in case No. 260/5885/24 concerning the legality of the DTP have recently been resumed. The next hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. It is in this case that it will be decided whether the developers had legitimate grounds for implementing their project.
At the same time, according to local residents, substantial pressure is made on activists of the Turye-Remetivska community who oppose the development of Runa mountain meadow. One example is the case No. 304/902/25: the police accused a community resident of “petty hooliganism” only for emotional comments on Facebook in defense of the environment. However, the court found that the protocol was drawn up with numerous violations – without the date when the offense was committed, with illegible data and with violation of deadlines. As a result, the materials were returned for revision. This demonstrates attempts to use administrative procedures to put pressure on active citizens.
Runa mountain meadow remains the focus of our defense as a symbol of a responsible attitude towards the nature of the Carpathians. Court decisions are still ahead but our position remains unchanged: development must be legal and the environment must be protected. We will continue to inform about the progress of the court cases.
