Police dismantles iron barricades erected during protests against Namakhvani HPP in Rioni Gorge

Police have dismantled iron barricades erected during protests against the Namakhvani HPP in the Rioni Gorge in western Georgia, in the village of Gumati.

The iron barricades were erected a month ago to hamper the movement of demonstrators protesting the construction of Namakhvani HPP by the Turkish company ENKA.

• Rally held in western Georgia to protest Namakhvani HPP construction
• Construction of main facilities of Namakhvani HPP suspended, auxiliary infrastructure will be built

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has stated today that  the police officers will stay in Gumati and Rioni Gorge due to security measures and will maintain public order.

The MIA has called on citizens who oppose the construction of the Namakhvani HPP ‘to abide by the law while exercising the right of assembly and freedom of expression and to obey the lawful demands of the police’.

Civic activists have been demanding the iron wall near the village of Gumati be dismantled and the opening of the road for several months now.

Responding to the ongoing processes in the Rioni Gorge, ENKA said the company welcomes any step towards de-escalating the process.

It is important that there are no hotbeds of tension on the ground in the Rioni Gorge and that the events take place in a calm atmosphere”, ENKA told Interpressnews.

After dismantling the barriers, the leader of Rioni Gorge Defender’s civic movement Varlam Goletiani said now they [civic activists] are waiting for the release of the protesters who were detained in late May.

• Eight detained during clashes with police in Namakhvani HPP protests released

Activists and locals of Rioni Gorge have been protesting the construction of  the HPP for months claiming that the project was launched without sufficient research and a thorough consideration of risks, including immediate security risks due to active seismic activity.