Anti-Namakhvani protesters set up tents in downtown Tbilisi

19:36, 23.05.2021

Anti-Namakhvani protesters set up tents on First Republic Square and pledge to stay there until the government meets their demands. Rally participant Saba Kvantrishvili said up to 50 tents would be put up in this area.

Massive rally against Namakhvani HPP construction kicked off in downtown Tbilisi today, at 3 pm. They arrived from Kutaisi city at noon. Clergymen also joined the rally, saying that the alienation of Georgian lands is unacceptable.

One of the rally organizers, Varlam Goletiani, has unveiled an action plan saying that if the government does not halt contact with Turkish company ENKA, including all the documents signed since 2015, they will block Tbilisi streets on Monday, by 12 a.m. Moreover, they demand criminal proceedings against Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava and all those who signed the contract.

For the record, the protests against the HPP construction have been underway in western Georgia for almost six months.

Earlier, the Georgian government announced that the HPP construction would be suspended for 9 to 12 months until the environmental, geological, and seismological surveys are reviewed.

Nevertheless, local protesters plan to continue rallies. They believe the HPP would be constructed anyway, which they oppose.

By - Marika Kartozia

Society

anti-Namakhvani protest