material from horse racing In connection with the local holiday of Lesbos, which took place on June 5, the Northeast Aegean Protected Areas Management Authority reportedly sent a letter to the prosecutor’s office demanding that all those involved be held criminally liable. It should be noted that in his area Bay of Kalloni Lesvos horse racing has been going on for many years, despite the law, and horses are often injured. In fact, in the summer of 2022, after the relevant videos fell into the hands of the local media and the animal protection association “Kivotos Mytilene”, a complaint was filed with the Mytilene First Instance Prosecutor’s Office. In addition, this unofficial hippodrome is located in Protected area of ​​nature.

The investigation of the case began after the citizen’s appeal in February to North Aegean region, in the Aegean Decentralized Administration and in the Municipality of Western Lesbos. During this period, according to him, illegal work was carried out to open roads in the area south of Alik Agia Paraskevi Lesbos. A month later, the Territory’s Department of Ecology discovered “illegal expansion of an unlicensed racetrack,” indicating that the interventions were intended to make the “race area” a straight route rather than a circular route. The same service returned on May 30, where, in a letter to the local police station, it was notified that the starting places of the metal horse races were being moved to a protected area “in order to hold equestrian workshops and an equestrian parade in the next three days.” as advertised on the associated poster.” The agency asks to ensure that matches are held outside the protected area.

On June 2, OFYPEKA also intervened. According to him, in March, three autopsies were carried out at the site, where it was found that a 900-meter road had been dug by a grader inside the protected area. In addition, a large number of stones were found near the Alykes Canal, “finds that lead to the conclusion that a bridge in the canal, which will connect an existing informal hippodrome with an opening in a new area to host horse racing, is under way.” OFYPEKA asks to “immediately prevent new interventions in the area and at the same time ensure the natural recovery of the affected area.” For this reason, it is considered essential to completely prohibit all activities in the opening area, such as the movement of vehicles, repeated exercises on horseback, etc. To this end, it would be useful for the municipality of Western Lesbos, which owns the area, to fence off sufficient parts of it, so that it cannot be approached by vehicles or by trained horses (as was found in the attempt from the side of the opening and beyond).

Despite the complaint filed in February last year, the matches on June 5 went on as usual.

However, the matches were held as usual on Monday 5 June by the Association of Agia Triado Kalloni and despite the document of the North Aegean Region Environment Authority, the regional governor was also present. Kostas Moutsouriswho also presented the prize to the winner of the demonstration, as well as the Deputy Mayor of West Lesbos, Andreas Axis.

What did the mayor say?

IN question from K as to why the permit was given without seeking the opinion of the Environmental Protection Agency (OFYPEKA), as required by law, the mayor of Western Lesvos, Brigadier General Verros, replies that permission was not granted. “We, as the city council, did not give permission, we were asked if we had any objections, and we answered in the negative,” says “K”. “Indeed, we agreed not to the races, but to the equestrian performances. The municipality had no other involvement,” he says. As he points out, there were horse races in the area in the past, before the area was declared protected. Finally, he confirms that the area used is municipal and managed (leased) by the North Aegean region as a pasture.

For his part, the president of the charitable association “Kivotos Mytilene”, Joseph Botecayas, reported: “In the 4th century BC. Aristotle came to Lesvos and specifically to the Gulf of Kalloni to study its unique ecosystem. He recorded his observations in his books, which marked the beginning of modern zoology and biology. Two and a half thousand years after Aristotle, this unique wetland is part of pan-European network of protected areas Natura 2000is threatened by the illegal activities of those who – under the auspices of the local “Mavrogialouri” and due to the lack of police and judiciary – threaten our most important heritage, our natural environment.”