Istanbul 6th Administrative Court suspended the Topçu Barracks Project - the planned construction of a shopping mall- at Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul on May 31, 2013. The project had been announced by PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before the elections in June of 2011. Erdoğan said in April that the Topçu Barracks would be used as a shopping mall and residence.

The court ruled the suspension of a former decision taken by Higher Council for Preservation of Cultural Heritage upon a motion from Taksim Gezi Park Preservation and Embellishment Association.

In a written statement on the decision of the court, made with a majority vote, Turkish deputy PM Bülent Arınç said that the court made a correct decision which -he said- must be obeyed by the administration too.

Arınç said people were right to object to the transformation of a green area to a shopping mall, however criticizing the protestors for turning this protest to a conflict environment. Arınç said the events in Taksim spread to a larger area because of some provocators. He said he was sorry for the environmentally-conscious people who suffered injuries in clashes.

Remarking that it was not realistic to accuse police of resorting to violence, Arınç said police forces were doing nothing other than fulfilling the orders they are given. "They have to use all the means they have in the event of an attack", he underlined and noted that the Ministry of the Interior has launched an investigation into the alleged use of violence during clashes.

He remarked that relevant authorities need to inform the public clearly about what exactly will be done in the scope of the Taksim Project so that the question marks in minds could be removed.

Warning about provocations aimed at well-intentioned protestors and the government, Arınç claimed that agents and provocators were behind Reyhanlı attacks and some other incident as well.