Türkiye: Russian workers building Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant allegedly met with force by authorities while protesting months of wage theft; incl. cos. non-responses
In July 2025, it was reported that Russian and Turkish construction workers were subjected to months of wage theft while building Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. The Moscow Times reported that the Akkuyu plant is a USD20bn project managed by Russia’s state energy company, Rosatom.
The workers reportedly protested the wage theft and poor working conditions, but their protest was met with force by authorities, including through the use of water cannons, tear gas and batons.
Rosatom told journalists that ‘external political factors’ were causing the wage delays. It allegedly told subcontractors to hold meetings with the workers to address their concerns.
While state institutions remain silent about wage theft by the employer, they respond with police and gendarmerie when workers demand their rights. We stand with the struggling and resisting construction workers. We will change this system of modern-day slavery.The Revolutionary Construction and Road Workers’ Union (Dev Yapı-İş)
The workers were employed by TSM Energy, with the migrant workers recruited via the Russian company, Titan-2.
In December, the Business & Human Rights Centre invited TSM Energy and Titan-2 to respond to the allegations. The companies did not respond.