Protesters against Namakhvani HPP project leave Tbilisi, continue demonstrations at site
After fruitless negotiations between the protesters and the government, the decision was made to move the protest to the capital city of Tbilisi on May 23. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Protesters against the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) in western Georgia have stopped their protest rally in the capital city of Tbilisi and say that they will continue the fight directly at the construction site of Namakhvani HPP.
We are leaving today, but that does not mean we will not come again", said Varlam Goletiani, the leader of Rioni Gorge Defenders civic movement.
After fruitless negotiations between the protesters and the government, the decision was made to move the protest to the capital city of Tbilisi on May 23. Goletiani said that the main purpose of their demonstrations in Tbilisi was to 'give our voice to the population of the capital city'.
We blocked the road several times and this rally had absolutely symbolic content. We just wanted people to think about [the Namakhvani HPP project]. Let's think and realise how important this fight is in which we all participate", Goletiani said.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Many activists and locals are protesting the construction of the HPP claiming that the project was launched without sufficient research and a thorough consideration of risks, including immediate security risks due to active seismic activity.
The protesters say that in addition to the environmental threat, the government has 'relinquished state interests' in the contract with Enka, the contractor company for the construction of the Namakhvani HPP.
The construction of the main facilities of the Namakhvani HPP in western Georgia, in particular the dam and the reservoir, will be suspended until major studies are re-verified and validated, while construction of the auxiliary infrastructure will continue, announces Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava.
Marches, street blockades and pickets to protest the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) in western Georgia will resume today at 16:00, announces Varlam Goletiani, the leader of Rioni Gorge Defenders civic movement.
It has been two hours since the protesters against the construction of the Namakhvani hydropower plant in western Georgia have been marching along the central streets of the capital city of Tbilisi. From the First Republic Square protesters marched to Freedom Square and blocked Rustaveli Avenue, later returning to First Republic Square where they will continue their demonstration.
Protesters against the construction of the Namakhvani Hydro Power Plant have gathered in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi today and call on the government of Georgia to fulfil their demands by 12 p.m. tomorrow, May 24.
Two individuals have allegedly been detained as police and protesters of Namakhvani hydro power plant construction clashed in Rioni Gorge, Varlam Goletiani, the leader of Rioni Gorge Defenders’ civic movement said.
Eight individuals protesting against the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) in western Georgia have been detained after a clash between protesters and police in the village of Gumati last night, announces the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Eight individuals have been released following their detention during clashes with police over the construction of the Namakhvani HPP in western Georgia. Namakhvani HPP protesters, who returned from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to Rioni gorge on May 26, were holding a demonstration at the iron wall in Gumati village since then.
Police detained Irakli Mukbaniani, a protester against the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) using disproportionate force, witnesses say. Mukbaniani was detained in the village of Sakulia in western Georgian region of Imereti for assaulting a police officer during a demonstration in Gumati village a couple of days ago.
Four major economic studies have been published by the Georgian Ministry of Economy which attest to the financial and economic viability of the Namakhvani HPP planned in western Georgia. The release of the reports comes following large protests against the construction of the power plant.
Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has announced that mediation on the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) that is planned to be built in western Georgia will be held in the coming days under the leadership of the European Union.
Turkish contractor company Enka, who had intended to construct the Namakhvani hydro power plant on the Rioni river in western Georgia, has notified the government of Georgia that it is terminating the $800 million project in the country. The statement published by the company reads that the reason for the cancellation of the contract with the Georgian government is the ‘violation of the terms of the contract and force majeure’.