Environment Ministry warns public against waste burning in annual celebration

The Department of Environmental Supervision of the Georgian Ministry of Environment on Tuesday warned the public to refrain from burning “any kind of waste”, including tyres and plastic, during the annual folk celebration of chiakokonoba.

The body explained burning the materials led to production of hazardous and toxic airs, and reminded the public of fines ranging from ₾500 ($198.44) to ₾1,500 ($595) for the actions.

The public announcement comes ahead of the annual timeframe for chiakokonoba, marked during the Christian celebrations of Holy Week but related to the ancient beliefs of using fire to chase away evil spirits.

In the festivity, fire pits were built against fictional spirits, while in the recent decades, the celebrations have gained a meaning of urban socialising across Georgia, with young people setting fires to waste in the street - often rubber tyres - and competing in jumping over the flames.