"On Sunday We Take To Square Again": Brest Citizens Seek Full Closure Of Battery Plant

The rallies will continue despite the local authorities' promises.

People protested, collected signatures, received fines and days of arrest and finally had a talk with the local authorities. The initiative group of opponents of the construction of the iPower battery factory in Brest met with the chairman of the regional executive committee, Anatol Lis, Belsat reports.

"Tell us directly, are we closing the plant or not?"

What will happen to the battery factory in Brest is not yet known, but the protesters were at least listened to. The regional authorities met with the initiative group for the first time in a year and a half of protests against the construction.

Raman Kisliak, human rights activist, participant of the meeting:

"This is a very dangerous enterprise that will pollute the environment. We have been insisting on this for a long time, and sooner or later it had to happen, that the authorities would meet us and listen to our position.

Journalists were not allowed to meet with the chairman of the regional executive committee, Anatoli Lis, and it was forbidden for the participants to take pictures and make audio recordings during the meeting. But the opponents of the construction of the plant assess the three-hour conversation as constructive.

Yesterday the management of the iPower plant organized its press conference, where, however, not everyone was allowed in. According to the participants, they were assured that all the permits for the plant launch will be received soon, and they were taken around the plant to see how safe the production of batteries will be. But the opponents of the plant do not believe this presentation.

Waiting for the reaction of the officials, the activists are not going to stop their activities; they are going to continue their watch at the plant, as well as the control over the authorities and the iPower management's actions and protests against the construction.

– Are we feeding pigeons this Sunday?

– Sure. I personally will feed the pigeons.

The activists plan to stop the protests only after the plant closes down.