Police Break up Anti-BTC Rally

Riot police,on June 9, broke up a rally of some 60 residence from the village of Krtsanisi, near Tbilisi, who were protesting against the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline through their village. Three protesters were detained by the police.

Villagers from Krtsanisi demand compensation for the land on which the pipeline is being constructed.

However, the BTC Pipeline Company, which runs the project, announced last year that it would not pay compensation for lands in common use in Tsalka because the lands were leased.

The villagers also say that there are fears over the environmental impact the oil pipeline will have.  BP, which leads the construction of the pipeline, claims that it has adequately met any environmental concerns.

BTC Co. incorporates eleven oil companies. BP (UK), who commands 38.2% of the corporation, is the largest shareholder of the BTC co.

The additional shareholders include: Amerada Hess (USA); ConocoPhillips (USA); ENI (Italy); INPEX (Japan); ITOCHU (Japan); SOCAR (Azerbaijan); Statoil (Norway); TOTAL (France), TPAO (Turkey); UNOCAL (USA).