Police erect iron wall in Rioni Gorge after anti-Namakhvani HPP protesters' decision to relocate

14:16, 26.05.2021

Law enforcers have erected an iron wall in the Rioni River Gorge in western Georgia, in Gumati village earlier today following the anti-Namakhvani HPP protesters’ decision to relocate back to the village.

“We decided to continue protest in the gorge and hinder them to continue demolishing the gorge,” activist Varlam Goletiani said.

A massive rally against Namakhvani HPP construction kicked off in Tbilisi on May 23. Rally organizers said if the government does not halt contact with Turkish company Enka Renewables, including all the documents signed since 2015, they will block Tbilisi streets. 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.

The Georgian suspended the HPP construction 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

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Anti-Namakhvani HPP protest

Rioni Gorge