“We are ready for a dialogue only if both sides give up their positions. We are ready for a dialogue with the Prime Minister or his decision-maker representative if we are allowed into the village of Namakhvani,” said Mirza Nozadze, one of the anti-Namakhvani HPP protesters. He voiced the demands of the protesters.

“We call on the government once again. We are ready for a dialogue only if both sides give up their positions and the discussions, the debate happens to exchange questions and seek answers. It needs a format where both sides stop giving ultimatums. We are ready for a dialogue with the Prime Minister or his designated decision-maker representative. We are ready for this dialogue if we return to Namakhvani, ​​the government removes the illegally mounted iron wall and does not restrict our fundamental right to freely express our protest against whatever we want and wherever we want within the law.

We also demand the government to avoid trying to negotiate with us in another way if the agreement with the investor proved to be anti-state. There is no way to bargain except to prove the truth. If the contract is anti-state, the Prime Minister should take responsibility and cancel it, declare a moratorium. Then, we will start a general discussion on how to manage our energy resources, how to create an energy policy that represents the will of the people,” he said.

Anti-Namakhvani HPP protesters have been holding rallies for several months. Protesters demand the Economy Minister’s resignation and direct involvement of PM Irakli Garibashvili in the negotiation process.