Economy Ministry ready to discuss Namakhvani HPP with NGOs
Economy Ministry ready to discuss Namakhvani HPP with NGOs

Georgian Economy Ministry has echoed a joint statement of three NGOs over the Namakhvani HPP project on Thursday. The Ministry said NGOs’ accusations were unsound.

Economy Ministry is ready to discuss the project-related questions with all interested organizations. The Ministry said it has a complete and comprehensive answer to the Namakhvani HPP contract.

“The NGOs’ allegations are untrue, aimed at misleading the public and escalating the situation over the project. We want to put an end once and for all to the speculations about the Namakhvani HPP project, as well as the decisions aimed at strengthening Georgia’s energy security in general,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Non-governmental organizations, the Social Justice Center (formerly EMC), Green Alternative, and Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA), working on the Namakhvani HPP project issues, made a joint statement in response to the steps taken by the government and the investor regarding the project.

NGOs are deeply concerned over the fact that the government refuses to engage in the dialogue and continues the infringement of human right to assemble, to protect the environment, to use public space, as well as the right to freedom of expression and free movement in the Rioni Valley in response to their criticism over fundamental violations committed during the project implementation, gross human rights abuses, the concluded agreement essentially compromising state interests, non-transparency and institutional failures.