MOSCOW, October 27 (RAPSI) – The Leningrad Regional Court has granted the construction of a gas pipeline on the territory of the Kurgalsky Nature Reserve, Greenpeace Russia reports on its website on Friday.

In July, the regional authorities authorized pipeline construction in the nature-sanctuary. The environmental organization and residents of the Kurgalsky Peninsula challenged this decision in the court. However, their lawsuit was dismissed.
The ruling will be appealed in the Supreme Court of Russia, the organization stated.

Over 38,000 Russian citizens spoke in defense of Kurgalsky Nature Reserve asking the Ministry for the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources and Nord Stream 2 AG to abandon idea of the pipeline route’s construction through the conservation area, according to the Greenpeace statement.